Landscaping for Love and Laughter: Designs and Ideas

If you live in an area where the climate is hot and arid, you can still turn your desert garden into a colourful green oasis by using the following clever landscaping tips.  Read on to find out more.

Choose the right plants

There a many plants of different species that suit an arid environment, including:

• cacti
• yucca
• oleander
• juniper
• bougainvillea

These species all enjoy full sun and will grow happily in sandy soil.  They need minimal watering too, making them perfect for a desert setting.  There are many other species that will flourish in a hot, dry setting; ask your landscape professional for more advice on what's available to you locally.

When water is at a premium, using small planters to decorate your patio, decking or windowsills is a great way of adding colour and interest to your outside space, without using vast amounts of water.  A good landscape supplies company will have a range of suitable containers to choose from, together with suitable media to plant them with.  You might also want to use traditional desert garden décor, such as sun-bleached driftwood, which can also be used to provide shade as well as interest.

What about a lawn?

Although there are several native species of grass that do suit a dry climate, you may want to consider having an artificial lawn instead.  Artificial grass looks just like the real thing, but it does not need watering to stay looking lush and green, and will not become scorched during drought periods.

Managing a harsh environment

In a harsh environment, the wind can be just as damaging to your plants as the sun.  You can address this by using decorative fences and hedges to act as windbreaks around areas of vulnerable planting. 

It's also worth considering having a timed sprinkler or drip irrigation system installed by a landscape expert, which will help you to conserve precious water whilst keeping your plants healthy. 

If you choose to water your garden manually, only do so during the early morning or evening when it is cooler and the sun won't evaporate your precious water before the plants can benefit from it.

Make it a habit to regularly check your garden's moisture levels.  You can do this simply by probing the soil with your finger to see how damp it is at the end of each day.  This will allow you to increase or decrease the amount of water you are giving to your plants at different times of the year.

In conclusion

You can still enjoy a beautiful garden even if you live in an area where the climate is very dry and hot.  Use the tips above and consult a professional landscape company for more advice on how to create the perfect desert garden.