How to Create a Desert Garden

Desert landscaping

Desert landscaping is a growing trend and is not as complicated as it seems. This could in fact grow into a whole new hobby in your spare time.

Desert landscaping are for people who wish to experiment with exotic gardening ideas. With help, you can transform your outdoor into a stunning desert garden. What's more is that desert plants do not need a lot of care from the gardener and since plants are drought resistant, it saves the homeowner water.

Things You'll Need

• Desert landscape plan
• Cacti and/or drought resistant plants
• 10-10-10 fertilizer
• Potting soil
• Materials for building fence, optional
• Plastic cover (tarp)
• Outdoor stones, rock and tile blocks
• Sand, soil for desert landscaping; for top layer soil
• Goggles
• Gloves
• Gardening tools

Instructions

1. 

   Consider the wind direction and soil while planning desert landscaping.

   Pick a spot in your garden where it is protected from winds. You may need to install fences and/or ground covers to block winds. This purpose is to give plants the time to set roots firmly into the ground.

   The soil would require a right amount of mulching and other additions essential for the healthy growth of plants.

2. 

   The design of the irrigation system is important of a desert landscaping project. While planning desert landscaping ideas, a well irrigating system must be given priority importance so that your landscaping becomes a success.

3. 

   Mark the border after choosing the spot for the desert landscape in your garden. Next, cover the border edges with the strip of plastic (i.e. old tarp). The plastic will help prevent weeds from growing into the desert landscape area.

4. 

   You will need to buy outdoor rocks or tile blocks to build a wall around your desert landscape. Rocks and tile blocks come in many styles, colors and are very beautiful but can be expensive.

   Stack your tile blocks or rocks on the edges of your desert landscape area. You decide the height of the wall, but 10-inches to 16-inches works well. After constructing the wall, fill your desert area with the cactus soil.

   Reason for building this heightened area is for irrigation purpose so that the ground for your cacti is higher than the rest of your garden. If your garden is on a hill, you can omit the construction; only if you want it for visual impact.

   Note: Wait until after the completion of your desert border wall to determine the amount of soil you need to fill up the area.

5. 

   The desert soil is alkaline in nature. Plant growth is a problem because the alkaline in the soil makes water impossible to hold. This problem is solved by adding additives so that the soil can retain enough water for the plant.

   Although desert soil (aka. cactus soil) is not great in retaining water, it is crucial to your cacti landscape fluid discharge. Excess water in the soil will rot the root system.

6. 

   Get plants that will thrive in your area. This information should be available wherever you purchase your cacti.

   Here are a few plants recommended for desert landscaping and that generally do well in all climates: Fairy Duster, Lamb's Ear, Pampas Grass, Purple Sage, and Yarrow Plant.

7. 

   Very little maintenance is needed for your desert landscape. Just the rainfall will be enough so no watering necessary. Every year in spring, sprinkle the area with a 10-10-10 fertilizer is about all you need to do.

Resources

• Guide to Creating a Desert Container Garden