Every home remodel, new home, or new building needs Landscaping to finalize the project and make it beautiful.  It’s what makes the overall project lovely, while enhancing the building, the exterior, and more.  Landscape Design should be done to complement the exterior of the building and accent the overall architecture.  Most landscaping ideas usually come from the residential side of landscape design or landscape architects – who specialize in landscape design, exterior design, and outdoor ideas in landscaping.  The best xeriscaping landscape designers are very conscientious of upfront installation costs, monthly maintenance, and long-term upkeep.

My experience stems from many years in the Southwest, where upfront costs were negligible, and the yearly operating costs (i.e. water & maintenance bills, etc.) were none.  Hence came the important aspect of water-wise, sustainable xeriscaping for the desert climates.  Water is not available in the southwest areas, so Xeriscaping is very popular for homeowners and landscape companies.  Desert landscaping & xeriscaping is such a beneficial, long-term solution that many city governments are offering cash rebates and tax rebates just for converting sod to desert landscaping.  Xeriscaping has been a very popular method of landscaping, and landscape designers have adapted this style for many of their clients.

As a Arizona landscaping company, our landscape designers offer many different styles of desert sustainable landscapes.  From Sonoran Xeriscapes, which include assortments of AZ cactus, ocotillos, and agaves to Southwestern landscapes and Phoenix Landscaping that usually include many desert environments that can’t quite tolerate the hot summers of Phoenix.  Desert landscaping & Xeriscaping often include many of these following types of plant species:

  1. Traditional Color Plants- These desert landscaping species are standard, normal desert plants that require nominal water usage.  Some of these plants are known for the tons of flowers, long bloom seasons, and ability to attract hummingbirds.  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 second list of Arizona xeriscaping plants.  Phoenix landscape contractors prefer some of the most hardy desert plants such as the az yellow bells, orange jubilee, baja fairy duster, texas rain sage, and yellow bird of paradise.  Other standard species you will find in hot xeriscape regions may be the creosote, bursage, mexican hopseed, feathery cassia, ruellia katie, or bougainvillea species.
  3. Xeriscape Grasses- Desert Landscaping 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.  Groundcover & grouping grasses offer a nice fill-in effect in some of the milder climates of the southwest (blue fescue, blue grama, and others).
  4. Agaves- There are many unique species of agaves, that range from the tiny agave parryi to the incredible 60″ tall agave americana.  The best solution for landscaping with drought-tolerant plants is the Agave, because of it’s low maintenance and low growth.
  5. Cacti-  Arizona landscape designers have the great selection of many selections of cacti – but most commonly, the Saguaro cactus (native to Arizona).  The protected Arizona saguaro is a bold choice for any desert landscape project because of it’s large robust features and little to no water usage.  Cacti in landscaping will drastically reduce the need for water consumption, and some unique cacti considerations are:  Hedge Hog, Golden Barrel, Mexican Fence Post and Cholla.
  6. Desert Trees- Desert trees also require less water and less maintenance.  Trees can provide some natural shade for those shade loving plants, and also a natural wind break if used properly.  Some common xeriscaping trees include the Desert Willow, African sumac, chitalpa, and elm tree.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR LANDSCAPING PROJECT:

  • Review the state requirements for xeriscaping species, plant locations and restricted species.  Because of their high water consumption and demand, some locations don’t allow the installation of turf or grass.
  • Research landscaping & xeriscaping plants that are good for your specific region.  Some plants will do poorly if not planted in the proper region.
  • Research precipitation for your location and this can assist you find plants and setup & plan for a good drip irrigation system.
  • Use moundings of plants with different colors.  When using small groups of low plants, use large groups of trees and shrubs as accents.
  • By watering in the morning, you can avoid excess evaporation, and more water will be used by your trees & plants.
  • Great irrigation habits can be achieved by training your plants to require less water, and infrequent waterings.
  • Snip wilted flowers & foliage to increase blooms & blooming seasons.
  • If you install turf in your xeriscape, then follow proper watering techniques and reduce runoff.
  • The use of a landscape and pool designer is a great investment when considering the best of Native desert landscaping & Xeriscaping.

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