The Verde Valley is the lower elevation region of the Central Arizona Highlands, where the towns of Sedona and Cottonwood are located. Historical weather records are one way to learn about the area. Many climatic factors influence what kinds of plants will grow in your yard. Minimum winter temperature and frost occurrence, maximum summer temperatures, rainfall amount and distribution, humidity, day length, and light intensity influence all plant growth. Each garden, field, and yard has its own microclimate that is largely influenced by topography.
Slopes are usually more frost free than flat land.
Beware of narrow washes that carry cold air from higher ground. Structures, paved areas, hedges and windbreaks may change airflow patterns, alter day length or light intensities, trap heat during the day and slowly release it during the night, or in other ways modify local climate. Minimum winter temperature is a major limitation. The best way to keep track of air temperature for your landscape is a maximum-minimum thermometer. This is a U-shaped tube that records the highest and lowest reaches of the mercury in 24 hours.