Diane Nickle

Diane Nickle

The GardenGuru

HELLO fellow gardening enthusiasts--and thank you for visiting my web site. My name is Diane and I am a long-time resident of Tempe, AZ and have been an avid gardener for as long as I can remember. I have a bachelor’s degree in Applied Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Urban Horticulture from Arizona State University, but I think some of my most valuable desert gardening expertise has come from years of experimentation in my own gardens.

Gardening in the Desert Southwest can be very challenging, but I can save you a lot of time and money by sharing my knowledge & experience. Garden Guru AZ can help you create a thriving desert landscape, vegetable garden or succulent garden no matter how large or small your project.

One of the fortunate aspects of living in the valley is that gardening is a year-round project. I harvest vegetables throughout the year, and with such an abundant yield, I get to share with family, friends and my local food bank.

A passion of mine is collecting and propagating succulents. The Sonoran Desert is a unique part of the world and the only home to the Saguaro cactus, which I am fortunate to have in my yard. Native plants are a wonderful addition to any landscape, whether in the ground or in containers—and not only because they require a minimal amount of water. By incorporating native plants into your garden space, you can create a haven for birds, mammals and other wildlife by providing natural shelter for them.   I love to sit on my back patio watching all the birds and butterflies that visit my gardens.

I am a firm believer that water is a precious resource and should be treated as such no matter where you live. One thing my education has taught me is that I can live by this principle and still create lush and beautiful landscapes. There are so many gorgeous options that do not require excessive water usage and yet provide adequate tree and shrub to avoid the “heat island effect” that is such a problem in desert cities. A well-planted yard provides a peaceful atmosphere, increases property value, and reduces the cost of cooling your home.

My motivation for starting this business came from many people I have met who struggle with growing plants in the Valley of the Sun. I have been a “garden coach” to friends and acquaintances for many years and would now like to offer my services to the general public. I offer reasonably priced, customized coaching and would love the opportunity to help you create the garden of your dreams.

I look forward to working with you!

Questions?

I'm here to help! Reach out via email, phone, or text and I'll get back to you as soon as possible!

diane@gardenguruaz.com

(602) 620-2821

jessica binkley
jessica binkley
2021-02-25
I want to share my experience working with GardenGuruAz, Diane. I am a novice gardener and when I bought my home in 2017 I desired to have a beautiful and low maintenance garden. Long story short, I hired A few different landscapers expecting them to be able to help with design and overall health of my garden on my Quarter acre lot. I learned the hard way that the landscapers were helpful for digging, mowing, and monthly spraying for weeds but NOT garden design, health, and Longevity that I needed. After several expensive and frustrating experiences, I went to Arcadia Color Nursery and asked for their recommendation for a true horticulturist that I can have a long term relationship with. They recommended Diane. I am relieved and thrilled with how far my garden has come since building a professional relationship with Diane. It would have saved me a ton of money, headspace, stress, and time if I had known about her when I moved to Tempe in 2017. But hey, deep breath, you live and learn! Since Diane has been working with me on my garden, I am relieved and ecstatic to tell you that she designed the garden of my dreams. Diane truly listened to the type of Plants, trees, and gardens that I love. She then designed my dream garden! I now have her come over every month or two to continue with the ongoing health and longevity of my garden and it is made all the difference having her as my gardener/horticulturist. I have learned so much from her! Diane is so knowledgeable and a true professional. I recommend her to anyone who will listen lol. Her pricing is extremely fair and 100% worth it. When I found Diane, I told my mom (who had also had several disappointing experiences with typical landscapers) and my mom hired Diane and has been thrilled with the consistency, professionalism, and health and beauty in her garden as well. Seriously, FIVE STARS,
Nancy Blankinship
Nancy Blankinship
2021-02-25
Diane, the Garden Guru, is such a pleasure to work with and is transforming my front yard, back yard, and atrium into lovely green spaces with plants and flowers that I love. Spending time in these lovely little pockets of Nature rejuvenate me. I highly recommend The Garden Guru. Thank you, Diane. 👏🏻💐
gayle shanks
gayle shanks
2019-12-01
We have the prettiest yard on Alameda Drive and I must share the credit for this beauty with my garden guru, Diane Nickle. She has worked with me for years now and helps with plant choices, watering advice, and where to plant the plants I can't resist adding to the gardens. She's savvy about light and soil needs and I rely on her when I go out of town.
Shoshanna Starzynski
Shoshanna Starzynski
2019-08-05
I cannot thank the Garden Guru enough! She helped me turn my empty, sad yard into a beautiful green and flowering space, attracting desert birds and butterflies. Her plant, bush, and tree selections have been amazing! Thank you!
Michael Kuby
Michael Kuby
2019-05-09
Diane has been helping us with our garden for many years. She is very knowledgeable about everything from plant choice to planting, pruning, , irrigation, trees, timers, and all kinds of ancillary stuff such as planters, rocks, borders, etc. She has a great eye for landscape design, and seems to be willing to work with clients in flexible ways depending on budgets and how much you want to do yourself. She's proactive in noticing problems and suggesting solutions. We recommend her highly!
Liz Delnegro
Liz Delnegro
2019-04-27
We have used And continue to use Garden Guru with plant selection, planting and plant maintenance. Given the heat and sun angles, this is the first time our yard has looked lush. The plants are healthy. Diane planted them soil appropriately. Five star.