I just moved from Glasgow, Scotland to Santa Fe, NM. I just purchased my (first) home and am starting to think about how to take care of the garden. Would this be an appropriate forum to e.g. post photos of plants, trees to ask what they are, how they should be cared for, etc? I think most of the garden is on a drip, sprinkler system - my neighbor suggested waiting until later in April to turn it on though. Should I still be watering the trees, plants or are they drought-tolerent enough to wait a few more weeks. The home is in a relatively new neighborhood (Rancho Viejo) - I believe that all of the plants, trees, landscaping is influence/guided by this whole xeriscaping thing.

Before moving in to our new house, it was unoccupied for some months. There garden is pretty much all grass except for some slate, the patio, and wood chip/bark areas with plants in there. The trees look fine. The bushy plants are all dried out. The grass is brown, patchy and in need of a trim.

Can anyone recommend a good book - maybe something specific to gardening in Santa Fe, or perhaps in Northern New Mexico. My parents had a lovely, bright & colorful garden back in Scotland. The only thing I did was water the plants and cut the grass. Apart from that, I'm pretty useless with green things. I searched Google for "Garden Care in Santa Fe for Dummies, Scottish, Green-thumbed, Inexperienced or Otherwise', but couldn't find it...

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Cheers,
Lee

As for plants, don't worry too much - I grow a very healthy ligularia, of course it's got it's very own dripper - and you wouldn't want a whole yard full of them - but as an accent plant, you can still grow some of the more water hungry varieties. Just don't plant a too many of them, and put them on their own drip zone.

I usually call this zone my "oasis" and it's right near the front porch where I can enjoy these unique plants every day when I come and go to work. I'm lucky my house faces East so this area is also shaded during the intense late afternoon sun.

Which brings me to another idea, use what micro-climates you may have to maximum effect. It will definitly increase the variety of plants you can select and should also help to lower your water usage.

Welcome to NM and Congratulations on your new home!