Your high-desert yard can serve as a low-maintenance, low-water-use wonderland. If you are unfamiliar with creating such a landscape, you might be well advised to consult an expert landscape designer to help you deal with some distinctive climate challenges that need some advanced planning.
High desert areas are defined as being over 2,000 feet above sea level and receiving less than 10 inches of precipitation each year. Meaning your backyard is subject to minimal moisture, periodic high wind and severe temperature swings. You may also have watering limitations imposed by your local government. You and your potential landscaping companies will need to spend some time discussing:
* Budget
* Ability or desire to perform routine maintenance
* Soil composition and changes needed, or suitability of plant life for the soil that’s there
* A landscape design using natural slopes (or some artfully crafted ones) that permit available water to flow downhill to the thirstiest plants
* Drip irrigation
* Grouping flowers with similar water needs together
* Use of native species that are adapted to the climate, referred to as xeriscaping
Before your first trip to the nursery, think about the dimensions your yard, the pattern of sun and shade and what kind of a result you want. If spare and simple is your style, consider plants and trees that will not “volunteer” to encroach on one another. If drainage is a concern, you’ll want to research exactly what materials and equipment will be required to correct that in your landscape design.
The use of a good drip-irrigation system can take care of maintenance and water-use issues at the same time. For example, emitters can control the rate of water flows to differing groupings routinely. By making use of photovoltaic timers that turn water on once the sunlight fades and the daylight heat drops, you’ll conserve water and your plants will have their thirst quenched more effectively. Once this irrigation setup is in place, your maintenance work is greatly reduced.
An interesting strategy to cut down on your energy use is to plant appropriate shrubs and trees all around your air conditioning unit. This can improve its cooling efficiency by 10 %. Conversely, the trees you plant around your outdoor patio and other areas of your house can allow more light in throughout the darker months when they shed their leaves, not to mention, welcome shade during hotter months.
If your yard is rocky, consider using that by installing a rock garden. Augment your rocks with boulders of varying sizes and colors, and place succulents like ice plants, aloe vera or scarlett paintbrush.
Additionally, the use of mulch around your plants helps slow down heat build-up, control weed growth and holds in moisture longer.
Approached with some preparing and expert help, your high-desert home could be graced by some very beautiful, unique and planet-friendly landscaping.
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