When it comes to desert landscaping, Las Vegas is one of the best places to find inspiration. The city’s dry environment makes it the ideal place for xeriscaping.
If you don’t know what xeriscaping is and its benefits to your desert landscape, this article will go through them.
What Is Xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping is a style of landscaping that requires little to no water. It uses various water-efficient methods while maintaining the aesthetics of a landscape. The term comes from the Greek word “xeric,” which means dry or low water.
Other landscaping experts define xeriscaping as gardening in the natural environment that you live in. It’s pretty popular in desert areas like Las Vegas, Nevada. But because of that, people often believe it only uses cactuses and big rocks for landscaping.
What Is Desert Landscaping and Why Do You Need It?
Desert landscaping is a gardening method that works best in dry parts of the world. It uses plants and flowers that can tolerate droughts, such as aloe, artichokes, and geraniums. It also introduces river stones, gravel, and permeable paving as part of the lawn design.
If you live in a dry area and still want to own a beautiful garden, then desert landscaping can help you make one. This practice also works well for residences that don’t want a high-maintenance garden that requires a lot of water.
The Benefits of Desert Landscaping
Even if you live in an area which a good water supply and plenty of rainfall each year, you can still take advantage of desert landscaping. Below are just a few benefits that this type of water-smart gardening provides:
- Drought-tolerant plants are often low maintenance and don’t require as much water as regular plants. Thus, you can save a bit of money on your water bill.
- Dessert plants are unique and offer a different look than your regular garden. They also come in different shapes and colors.
- Plants like conifers and cactuses are good at filtering the pollutants and toxins in the air. Hence, it can also benefit your health.
- Desert landscaping is environmentally friendly since it consumes less water and has less carbon footprint than your regular garden.
The Elements of Modern Desert Landscaping
Modern dessert landscaping combines various elements that properly apply core principles. The following are the main elements that are often observed during desert landscaping.
- Planning and Design
- Soil Preparation
- Mulching
- Practical Turf Areas
- Plant Selection
- Efficient Irrigation
- Maintenance
In terms of the design aspect of a desert landscape, it still follows the same concepts as a regular garden. Thus, it still follows a line and form which guides the placement of plants and other objects. It also has scale and texture to make it visually pleasing. Finally, it balances the color of every component involved.
The Use of Hardscapes
Xeriscaping also combines hardscapes and softscapes to create a pleasant balance. Desert landscaping Las Vegas, for example, replaces grassy lawns with mulch, rocks, or soil. They are then planted with xerophytes or plants adapted to arid climates.
Daffodils and myrtles are two great examples of desert plants for landscaping. Meanwhile, landscape contractors may also use other desert trees and shrubs as requested by the client.
Grass Alternatives for Modern Xeriscape Backyard
Artificial grass is an excellent replacement for natural grass. If you prefer an eco-friendly alternative, try groundcovers, evergreen moss, and turfgrasses which use less water. Succulent is another plant that doesn’t require mowing and can survive in dry conditions.
The Use of Drip Irrigation Systems
Consider installing a drip irrigation system if you have a large desert landscape. The efficient delivery system directly supplies nutrients and water into the plant’s root zone.
The setup usually involves dripper lines and pipes that evenly deliver the water and nutrients across an entire field.
Desert Plants for Landscaping
Choose plant species with low water needs while looking for the best drought-tolerant plants, especially if you are concerned about water conservation. Some of the best plants for this task include Salvia, Lavender, Agastache, and Coneflower.
Desert Trees and Shrubs
Dessert trees and shrubs are a great addition to your xeriscaping endeavors since they add more “greenery” to your garden. Cocklebur, California Fan Palm, Mesquite Tree, and Indigo Bush are just a few great examples.
Colorful Drought Tolerant Plants
If you want to add more colors to your garden, you also have dozens of options. Our most recommended plants include Lantana, Catmint, California Poppy, and Licorice.
Landscape Lighting for Style and Function
Wrapping lights to your landscape will make it more noticeable during the nighttime. If you have shrubs or trees, you can even wrap these lights around them to stand out more.
Conclusion
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need modern desert landscaping services. We are a full-service landscape company that offers affordable landscape services for residential and commercial spaces.
Our company has the best desert landscaping Las Vegas can offer. Let us turn your regular lawn into a modern xeriscape backyard. We also do landscaping maintenance in the Las Vegas Valley, Spring Valley, North Las Vegas, and other nearby areas.
