How to Landscape With Desert Plants

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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You've decided that the time and effort to maintain golf course quality green grass could be better spent or maybe you are sick of high water bills to keep delicate plants alive in the heat. Be kind to yourself and your pocketbook by planning a desert landscape garden. Here are some tips to get started.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Consider using native trees. Palo verdes, mesquites and acacias are used to the harsh climate of the desert and will thrive without a lot of water. Placed correctly in your garden, they could even provide some shade to help lower utility costs or filter bright light during the hottest part of the day.

Step2

Add shrubs and grasses to accent parts of your yard. Find ones that have beautiful foliage or flowers to draw the eye in and give your property some curb appeal. Spiky yuccas, agaves and desert spoons are terrific accents, while the beautiful red bird of paradise and cassia nemophila will continue to bloom well into the desert summer.

Step3

Use cactus and other succulents in moderation. Sure, nothing says "desert" like a saguaro, but cacti can be expensive to get and hazardous for children and pets. Use friendlier varieties, like a dramatic, crimson-topped ocotillo over a prickly pear with its sometimes nearly microscopic spines.

Step4

Plant native species of flowers for a bright color punch. California poppies and other desert wildflowers require little care or water and come back beautifully year after year.

Step5

Take time to plan out the garden now that you have some favorite plants picked out. A "dry creek" feature using a trail of river stones can add interest and drama to your desert landscaping and even highlight a favorite plant or two. Make a small berm and place one of your shrubs on top of it to keep your yard from looking flat and boring. Have fun with the design, and it will show in the final result.