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Xeriscaping Ideas for the Southwestern Regions
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The final touches to any outdoor project comes in the Landscaping stage of the project. It’s what makes the building, the exterior, and the overall project beautiful. Landscape Design should be done to complement the exterior of the building and accent the overall architecture. Some landscaping concepts can come from the homeowner side of landscape design – where landscape designers or landscape architects provide great ideas in exterior design, outdoor areas, and xeriscaping. At the same time, xeriscaping designers should be conscientious of startup costs, maintenance, and long-term upkeep.
My background stems from many years in Phoenix, where upfront costs were negligible, and the yearly maintenance costs (i.e. water bills, landscape maintenance, etc.) were none. this came the importance of low maintenance, low water consumption, and xeriscaped landscapes for dry climates. The term Xeriscape was one of the most popular and most landscape friendly styles for the dry desert climate where water was scare. Many new and existing homes are not allowed to have grass; in fact, in some cities, cash rebates are offered to convert high-water consuming turf to desert landscaping or xeriscaping. 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 landscapes, which may include cacti, saguaros, and ocotillos to SW Xeriscapes and Phoenix Landscaping that may include many mid-level desert landscapes that can’t quite bear the hot AZ summers. Desert landscaping & Xeriscaping often include many of these following types of plant species:
- Traditional Color Plants- These xeriscaping species are standard, normal xeriscaping plants that require average water usage. Some of these plants are high flowering varieties, hummingbird-attractant with long bloom seasons. Some common species may include: Cherry sage, russian sage, penstemon, yarrow, red valerian, purple coneflower, coreopsis, gaillardia, and lavendar.
- Arizona Desert Plants- Many of the species above would not sustain an hot desert summer, which is the reason for a secondary list of Arizona desert plants. The mexican bird, yellow bells, orange jubilee, rain sage and fairy duster are very popular among the 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.
- Xeriscape Grasses- Desert Landscaping planners use grasses for accents or to fill in over-sized areas.Pampas grass, purple fountain grass, and deer grass are all specimens of grass that can reach over 6′ tall and provide a focal feature or visual block. It’s incredible fall blooms makes muhly grass a great ornamental grass selection. Some milder climates can handle fescue, glue grama, or other small sized landscape grasses.
- Agaves- There are many different species of agaves, that range from the tiny agave parryi to the large 5′ tall agave americana. Agaves are the perfect fit for landscaping hence their slow growth pattern, low maintenance, and drought tolerance.
- Cacti- Arizona landscape designers have the great selection of many varieties of cacti – but most commonly, the Saguaro cactus (native to Arizona). Saguaros make an excellent, bold impact on any desert landscape because of it’s huge mass and ability to look great during low-water conditions. Cacti in landscaping will drastically reduce the need for water, and some unique cacti considerations are: Hedge Hog, Organ Pipe, Mexican Fence Post and Ocotillo.
- Desert Trees- Desert climate 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 desert trees are Acacia, Desert Willow, Sumac, Mesquite, Palo Verde and Elms.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR LANDSCAPING PROJECT:
- Review the city requirements for xeriscaping species, plant locations and restricted species. Grass & turf restrictions may be evident in some locations such as the southwest because of their demand for water.
- Do your homework on landscaping & xeriscaping plants that are best for your specific location. Not all species grow in all areas – some may do very poorly if introduced to the wrong space.
- Research precipitation for your area and this can assist you select species and setup & plan for a good sprinkler system.
- Use groupings of different species of shrubs in large mounds. Use bigger specimens of trees for accents while planting smaller groups of low-growing plants below.
- Water in the AM! – this is the best time of day so that your xeriscaping plants get the best use of their water.
- By water deeper, longer and infrequently, you can train your xeriscaping plants to require less water – this is good watering habits.
- Snip dead flowers & foliage to increase blooms & blooming times.
- If you have sod or turf in your xeriscape, then make sure you irrigate properly and reduce runoff.
- The hiring of a Phoenix landscape designer is a great investment when considering the best of Soutwestern landscaping & Xeriscaping.
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