Gardening in Hot Springs (insurance, houses, garden)

[lisajayne]

We are planning on retiring in the Hot Springs, SD area next year. I love to garden and am used to lush green grass and perenials next to my house. Will I survive there? When looking at property on-line, all I see is gravel around the houses. Is this for property insurance reasons due to forest fires?

[SD4020]

It is in USDA climate zone 3. There is the issue of water. I am not sure if they have water restrictions in place or not. It is a pretty dry climate there too.

I am thinking the rock around the house is more because its easy to maintain.

[DannyBanany]

Lisa I think you can have a nice garden in Hot Springs. We used to go get tomatoes down there and the people we bought them from had a nice big garden with plenty of vegetables. It probably depends on just where you are because the soil is rocky in some spots. Hot Springs is at the mouth of a canyon with a stream flowing through it too.

[eric#1]

Hot Springs is quite dry. Irrigating/watering will be a must for greenery in the area. In general the temps are more favorable there for growing vegetables than the most other areas of the Black Hills though.

[SD4020]

Originally Posted by eric#1

Hot Springs is quite dry. Irrigating/watering will be a must for greenery in the area. In general the temps are more favorable there for growing vegetables than the most other areas of the Black Hills though.

More and more I am a fan of drip irrigation, or drought hardy plants. Have finally tackled the back yard at my house. Well making some big steps in the right direction.

Best advice I can give is visit the local nursery, they will have good idea what does well, what is animal resistant. Will have an idea of soil types and PH levels.