Xeriscaping Ideas for the Southwest

The finishing touch to every new home project, house remodel or commercial building is Landscaping.  It’s what makes the overall project great.  Xeriscaping & Landscaping design is done to complement the architectural style of the home.  Residential landscaping ideas may often come from professional landscape designers or architects because of their experience in the xeriscaping and desert climate landscaping.  At the same time, landscape designers should be conscientious of upfront costs, maintenance costs, and long term upkeep.

My landscape experience stems from many years in Phoenix, where upfront costs were negligible, and the yearly operating costs (i.e. water & landscape maintenance bills, etc.) were slim to none.  Hence came the important aspect of low maintenance, low water-use, and sustainable landscapes for dry climates.  Desert landscaping and xeriscaping is a way to provide low water-use landscaping for dry desert climates such as the southwest.  Many new residences are not allowed to have turf, and the local officials entice by offering cash rebates for converting turf areas to xeriscaping.  Xeriscaping has been a very popular method of landscaping, and landscape designers have adapted this style for many of their clients.

As a Phoenix landscaping company, our expert designers in landscaping can provide many techniques and ideas of xeriscaping.  From Southwestern Xeriscapes  that usually have mid-level desert environments to hot Sonoran desert & Phoenix landscape, which include may assortments of Arizona cacti, saguaros and agaves.  Desert landscaping & Xeriscaping often include many of these following types of plant species:

1. Traditional Color Plants- These desert landscaping varieties are standard, normal landscaping plants that require average water usage.  Some of these flowers have many flowers, attract humming birds, and bloom forever.  Some common species may include:   Cherry sage, russian sage, penstemon, yarrow, red valerian, purple coneflower, coreopsis, gaillardia, and lavendar.
2. Arizona Desert Plants- Many of the species above would not sustain an Arizona summer, which is the reason for a secondary list of Arizona desert plants.  Red birds, yellow bells and texas sages are all popular choices for Arizona style landscape projects and very popular among many Phoenix landscape contractors.  Other common plants you may see in hot desert climates may be Mexican honeysuckle, creosote bush, bursage, chuparosa, ruellia, bougainvillea, or cassias.
3. Xeriscape Grasses- Landscape designers use grasses for accents or to fill in large areas.Visual focal features can be obtained by using some large species of grasses such as pampas grass, fountain grass or muhly grass.  Deer grass is a great choice for grass accents too.  Some ornamental grasses such as fescue, blue grama, and others can actually fill in large areas and act as a ground cover.
4. Agaves- There are many various species of agaves, that range from the small agave parryi to the huge 62″ tall agave americana.  Because of slow growth & little upkeep, the Agave is a great solution for xeriscaping in the southwest.
5. Cacti-  Arizona desert landscaping designers have the great selection of many species of cacti – but most commonly, the Saguaro cactus (native to Arizona).  Saguaros are an excellent choice for a specimen cactus in any high desert landscape.  Cacti in xeriscaping will drastically cut the need for water usage, and some gorgeous cacti considerations are:  Fish Hook, Totem Pole, Mexican Fence Post and Cholla.
6. Desert Trees- Xeriscaping trees also require less water and less maintenance.  If a natural wind-break is necessary, you can use some large shrubs or properly placed trees (which can provide some shade too).  The acacia, desert willow, african sumac and palo verde are some common desert landscaping trees.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR LANDSCAPING PROJECT:

• Review the regional requirements for xeriscaping species, plant locations and restricted species.  Before designing and installing turf areas, check your local rules and regulations.
• Research landscaping & xeriscaping plants that are best for your specific area.  Not all species grow in all regions – make sure you figure out which region you are in before starting.
• Research annual rainfall for your location and this can assist you determine species and setup & plan for a adequate drip irrigation system.
• Use groupings of plants, different colors, and mounding.  Use bigger specimens of trees for accents while planting smaller groups of low-growing plants below.
• The best results from watering plants occurs watering for longer periods of time in the morning (to avoid evaporation).
• Practice good watering habits – usually watering every day is not necessary, you should train your landscape plants to use the water they get, and deep water less frequently.
• Cut dead flowers & foliage to increase blooms & blooming seasons.
• If you install turf in your xeriscape, then follow proper watering techniques and reduce runoff.
• The contracting of Phoenix landscape designers is a superb investment when considering the best of Native desert landscaping & Xeriscaping.