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By Richard Crowe In April's Life in Solera, I covered 1) gardening as a hobby, and 2) how I fit so many plants into my yard. Below are a few tips to increase your chance of success in starting a garden. CLIMATE ZONE. Beaumont is a good place to garden but, like any place, it has its limitations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture places Beaumont in Climate Zone 9b (winter lows of 25° to 30° F). However, Beaumont is close to mountains and the desert and can have wide swings of weather. When in doubt on a certain plant, consult the experts at Cherry Valley Nursery. Solera microclimates are also a factor in plant selection, especially with winter cold. For example, on one winter morning the temperature at a Solera home near Brookside Ave was 30° while at my home, next to the main gate, at the same moment was 39°. This phenomenon is due to the cold air that flows down from the Oak Glenn area warming up as it flows through Solera's warmer streets and densely-packed heated homes. With this in mind, my nine citrus trees (at the lower end of Solera) have never suffered a hard freeze in 20 years. SOILS. First-generation Solera homeowners tell horror stories of digging and planting their hard-soil yards. Many of us used soil augers and jack-hammers. Our native soils are clay and lack organic matter so adding organic matter was required (lots of it – see the included photo of me shoveling a load into my yard). Organic matter helps with root growth, digging, soil fertility and chemistry, and provides microorganisms. I had my soil tested in 2012 and found 1) it was deficient in organic matter, nitrogen and potassium, and 2) the alkalinity (pH) was high. I dig organic matter into my vegetable garden twice/year and place 3" of it under all shrubs and trees every three to four years. I also feel that organic fertilizers are superior to the "chemical" type in that they promote more underground microorganisms which aid plant growth. WATERING. I offer the following for your consideration): 1) my entire yard is automatically watered via 12 irrigation valves (no dragging hoses round!), 2) all plants on a valve have the same watering requirement, 3) watering longer and less frequently promotes deeper penetration of water and roots, 4) in our clay soil too much watering can kill some plants, especially citrus and drought-tolerant plants, and 5) over the 20 years I have lived in Solera I have constantly fiddled with the watering (days/week, duration) of shrubs, trees, and vegetables. It's been a learning process with our clay soil and weather. I try to be conservative in watering but I have come to realize that vegetables, roses, and deciduous fruit trees do better with a little more water than I originally thought, especially in hot summers. A final thought: a gardener never stops learning and adjusting technique. Tips for a successful garden | LIFE IN SOLERA | JUNE 2023 | 17