Who says you can't have a garden in the desert? Our REALTORS® love the convenience of eating fresh fruits and vegetables from their own backyard. Plus, making a raised garden bed in your Las Vegas home is super easy. Follow these 10 simple steps. 

1. Choose the Container
   Raised beds come in a variety of materials such as cedar, recycled plastic, and galvanized steel. You can also choose from semi-DIY, modular, and fully constructed beds. A depth of 10-12" is recommended to give roots plenty of room to develop.
   
   
2. Decide How Many Beds to Plant
   If you're a gardening newbie or have limited time, you might want to start with one. Three or four beds will give you a healthy amount of space if you plan to cultivate a good variety.
   
   
3. Plan Your Produce
   Your personal taste will be your best guide, but popular fruits and vegetables that grow well in Las Vegas include tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus, cantaloupe, and strawberries. Herbs such as cilantro, basil, rosemary, and sage thrive outdoors and let you add flavor to cooking without increasing calories.
   
   
4. Research Appropriate Planting Times
   Generally speaking, spring and fall are optimum planting seasons. More specific timetables can be created based on the types of fruits and vegetables you'll be planting.
   
   
5. Find the Right Location
   Eight hours of daily sun is a good rule of thumb, so look for the spot with the greatest exposure to sunshine. Stay away from lower areas where the soil can get too waterlogged.
   
   
6. Remove Grass and Weeds
   Las Vegas soil tends to be hard and rocky, which inhibits proper water retention in plants. Also, its high salt content is toxic to plant growth. Once you settle on a location, remove grass and weeds and loosen the soil to an approximate depth of 6-10" for enhanced moisture retention and drainage.
   
   
7. Add Soil
   As the source of nutrients, the soil is the most important factor in successful gardening. For raised garden beds, experts recommend a blend of 60 percent topsoil, 30 percent compost, and 10 percent potting soil. If high-quality topsoil isn't available, go with equal parts potting soil and compost. Avoid peat moss, which is too acidic for growing most vegetables.
   
   
8. Fertilize as Needed
   Soil needs a little help providing plant nutrients, so supplement the beds with an all-purpose organic fertilizer. For best results, put down one layer at the time of initial planting and repeat at midseason.
   
   
9. Keep Seeds Watered
   The hard coating on seeds needs to remain moist for them to sprout. After the initial planting, water the beds to a depth of several inches and keep the soil consistently damp until the first set of leaves emerges. Place an "awning" of garden fabric or shade netting over the beds to improve moisture retention. The covering can be removed once plant growth is established. Going forward, watering should be at a minimum except during periods of hot, dry weather. 
   
   
10. Remove Weeds
    Intensive planting, where crops are spaced close together, reduces the incidence of weeds. When they do occur, remove weeds immediately to prevent them from taking up valuable space and nutrients.

Las Vegas homes for sale offer many great options for you and your family to put down roots. When you're ready to buy or sell a home, contact us to get started.