Xeriscaping & Landscaping Solutions for Dry Climates
Landscaping is the finishing touch to every new home project, house remodel, or even commercial building complex. It’s what makes the home’s exterior beautiful and complete. Landscaping also should be designed and installed to accent the architectural feel of the building or home. Landscape Designers and Landscape Architects often provide excellent ideas in residential and small commercial landscaping – such as landscape design, exterior environments, backyards, and residential landscapes. At the same time, xeriscaping designers should be conscientiuous of startup costs, maintenance, and long-term upkeep.
My background stems from many years in Albuquerque, where upfront costs were negligible, and the yearly operating costs (i.e. property maintenance, irrigation & other bills.were none. Hence came the important aspects of low maintenance, low water consumption, and desert landscapes for southwestern regions. The term Xeriscape (or low-water use landscaping) has become one of the most popular and researched terms in the landscaping business. Many new buildings and homes are not even allowed to have turf, and the local cites are offering tax incentives to convert turf to xeriscaping. Xeriscaping has been a very popular method of landscaping, and landscape designers have adapted this style for many of their clients.
Many Phoenix landscape companies provide great ideas in landscape and xeriscape design for their clients. From Sonoran landscapes, which may include cacti, saguaros, and ocotillos to SW Xeriscapes 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 desert species are standard, normal desert plants that require standard water useage. Some of these species are known for lots of flowers, long bloom times, and hummingbird attractant. Some common species that landscapers love are the cherry and russian sages, Echinacea, gaillardia, gayfeather, coneflowers, asters, columbines, or coreopsis.
- Arizona Desert Plants – Many of the species above would not sustain an Sonoran summer, which is the reason for a secondary list of Arizona xeriscaping plants. Red birds, yellow bells and texas sages are all popular choices for Arizona style landscape projects and very popular among many Phoenix landscape contractors. Other common plants you will find in Sonoran desert climates are the mexican honeysuckly, chuparosa, creosote, penstemon, angelita daisy, and brittlebush.
- Xeriscape Grasses - Professional planners use grasses for accents or to fill in oversized 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. Muhly grass is a great selection for an accent grass. Some groundcover grasses can actually fill in large spaces and provide a great xeriscaping environment (blue fescue, blue grama, and other ornamental grasses).
- Agaves – There are many unique species of agaves, that range from the small agave parryi to the huge 70″ tall agave americana. The southwest xeriscape plant of choice is ofter an Agave because of it’s minimal water use and little to no maintenance.
- Cacti - Arizona landscape designers have the great selection of many varieties of cacti – but most commonly, the Saguaro cactus (native to Arizona). Saguaros make the perfect statement for any desert sustainable landscape because of it’s ability to look great with NO water useage. Cacti in xeriscaping will drastically reduce the need for water useage, and some gorgeous cacti considerations are: Old Man, Golden Barrel, Mexican Fence Post and Cholla.
- Desert Trees – Desert Adapted trees also require less water and less maintenance. Tree and shrubs can enhance the xeriscaping project, provide some natural shade, and provide a naturale wind break. The acacia, desert willow, african sumac and palo verde are some common desert landscaping trees.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR LANDSCAPING PROJECT:
- Review the local requirements for xeriscaping species, plant locations and restricted species. Check for grass restrictions, since some locations do not allow for plants that use high water.
- Research landscaping & xeriscaping plants that are good for your specific area. Not all species grow in all regions – make sure you figure out which region you are in before starting.
- Research annual rainfall for your area and this can assist you find plants and setup & plan for a proper sprinkler system.
- Use moundings of plants with different colors. Use larger species and trees for specimen plantings and accents, grouping smaller, low-growing plants around them.
- The best results from watering plants occurs watering for longer periods of time in the morning (to avoid evaporation).
- By training your plants to use less water, you are practicing good watering habits.
- Cut old flowers & foliage to enhance blooms & blooming times.
- Effective xeriscapes have less or no turf grass (which requires lots of water).
- The use of a experienced landscape designer is a superb investment
Where do I find tax incentives for desert landscaping, please?