Desert Landscaping

By Author: Luann Hays
Total Articles: 22
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Not everyone has the pleasure of having great land for their landscaping project and therefore it can be a lot harder for them. It could be that your land is like a desert where the plant growth is very rare and there is hardly any green grass. When the land looks barren and unpromising, it can be hard to imagine it looking good at all. The good news for people with land like this is that there are actually things that can be done in order to make it look better.

If you live in a dry and arid climate then your landscaping is going to take a little more planning than some other parts of the country. Desert landscaping will have to work with a plan that includes only plants and trees that can survive with much less water than some other plants. There is no point in planting something if it can not sustain itself afterwards. So take some time with your desert landscaping plan and make sure that you have done everything suited to the climate.

In the hot and dry Southwestern United States, landscaping takes on an entirely different significance than in other regions. As water is so precious here, conservation is a major ...
... concern of both home owners and city officials. But desert home owners don't have to sacrifice beauty because of the lack of water. Dry landscaping is an excellent way to make a landscape unusual and eye-catching, while using minimum water resources.

To start with you will need to do quite a bit of planning. Because the land is not the best and the climate may be difficult, it does need a lot of thought. You need to have some idea on what look you want to achieve too and then see if it is at all possible to achieve this.

To get some inspiration and ideas try searching around on the Internet and looking in magazines. The hardest thing you will be faced with is coming up with a design that will suit your landscape. However, because the land is more awkward you should not let it stop you from finding a great design to transform your garden completely. You will need to bear in mind about what space is available and also you need to consider your budget.

Cacti are the most popular and versatile plant in desert landscaping. When shopping for cacti for your desert landscaping you will find a large variety, both in size as in shapes and colors. You will be surprised when you learn that there are cacti several feet tall and others small as a couple of inches. Flowers are not uncommon in cacti, and the variety is also large, though they don't bloom for a long time. One exception is the prickly pear, named after its fruit. This cactus produces a beautiful yellow flower in summertime.

Cacti grow in a wide array of sizes and shapes. Its flowers are large, similar to branches and spines that arise from areoles. Most of the varieties are night bloomers. This is since they are generally pollinated by nocturnal small animals or insects like bats and moths. Their varieties range from tall and columnar to small and globular. Cacti often grow as shrubs, trees or a type of ground cover.

In Mexico and Central America the Agave Americana (century plant) is used as fencing on farms. Because of their sharp spines and margins they keep cattle in and people and predators out. The plant, used as an ornamental, makes a beautiful addition to any rock or cactus garden. The century plant can be grown in a container, however it's size will be much smaller than if it were grown in the ground.

Longwood Blue (bluebeard) is a shrub, it is deciduous and it will grow back each and every spring. It will always come back healthy and happy and this makes it perfect for desert landscaping. It is not a tiny shrub, it will grow to be anywhere between 3 and 4 feet high with a width of about 2 feet. This is a lovely plant to use in your desert landscaping as it is not only beautiful with its pretty blue flower clusters and silver foliage, it is also very fragrant.

Autumn Joy is a wonderful perennial that you can plant for your desert landscaping. With this choice you will have great leaves in pretty whorls. These leaves can be any number of different colors and can be bought to go with any desert landscaping design. This plant is the ultimate for desert landscaping because it can grow in rock gardens with ease. This lovely desert landscaping plant also has a unique and interesting flower unlike any other I have ever seen. These small flowers grow in clusters and they can be a few different colors and shades. The most common are yellow, orange and red and pink. If you plant these in your garden you will have butterflies around all of the time and they make for lovely entertainment on their own.

Of course, you also plant other type of desert plants such as aloes, periwinkles and several types of heathers. Make a visit to your local gardening store for further information on what type of plants you can add to your desert landscaping project.

Drought-resistant plants compliment dry rock landscaping well. The native southwestern plants are generally sun-loving and water-wise. Careful research will reveal low maintenance and low water use plants perfect for this type of landscape. Many of the cactus varieties are good choices, as are juniper, lamb's ear, and other perennial plants that can withstand year after year with little water.

So, if you have a desert landscape that needs something done with it, use a bit of creativity and do some research in order to transform it. Do not let the climate and heat stop you from enjoying your landscape as it can be overlooked.
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