Desert LandscapingMicroclimates in Xeriscaping - Tiny Pockets of LifeThe art of desert landscaping utilizes drought tolerant plants in a way that mimics or emulates a desert environment.By xeriscaping – landscaping without much water - and using other moisture retaining tactics like landscaping with rocks and using mulching techniques you can make your garden a desert oasis. The pockets of protection give plants in these sheltered spots an edge in dry gardens.
Rock retaining walls enclose an area of pavement, clustering boulders make a sheltered nook, and a courtyard is a protected seating area. See how nature does it; groups of plants form guilds, with taller shrubs creating a tiny scrap of shade to protect seedlings of other plants, which in turn shade the roots of the shrub. Each plant contributes to the whole environment, aiding the survival of others. Some native desert landscape plants in your palette can provide a backbone for fleshing out with other drought tolerant plants such as succulents with their excellent drought smart strategies. Use as your basis any plants that are native to your area, so are well adapted to the climate. Choose plants that are evolved to grow well in an area slightly drier than what you garden in, and also look at plants which can adapt to changing conditions or seasonal inundation in their natural habitat. In areas of colder winters, Saguaro cactus won’t grow, so it’s important to find plants with similar features to use in the place of some of the more tender plants. To provide the same sense of height and scale, look for trees or large shrubs that will occupy the same niche as some of the larger cacti. These can be hardy native shrubs, or exotic species that require the same conditions. Each climate will require different shrubs or trees, so some research is necessary. These will form the outline of your desert landscaping, which will then be filled in with smaller shrubs or larger perennials; these can be xeric plants that have been tested over many generations in challenging conditions. Surround these with drought tolerant ground covers. Some of my favorite plants are succulents such as Sedum and Sempervivum to fill this role. The important thing to remember with desert landscaping is to provide sheltered spots for groupings of plants with similar requirements. The art of leaving some areas un-planted and mulching with pebble mulch or lava rock is important in this type of xeriscaping. Whether you view a desert as a dry desolate place, or as an ecosystem with an array of plant material that can exist in such a challenging habitat, you can adapt the lessons that deserts teach to form your own colourful and textural desert landscaping. Learn more about Xeriscaping with Succulents with the E-Book: Click on the picture to buy:
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Xeriscaping - Landscaping with Less Water
Gardening with a Light Hand on the Land
The focus is on landscaping with easy care drought tolerant plants like Sedum, Sempervivum and thyme and using natural materials to build rock retaining walls and it's easy to see why.
It used to be that once in a while these kinds of plants would come to the fore, and successfully maneuver dry summers, but now it's obvious that these are the most suited to what is becoming the norm.
Interested in learning how to build a patio? See this page for patio design ideas.
Seeing how beautiful these unique landscapes are and how well they perform in challenging conditions will encourage others to find unique plants to use in their own xeric garden.
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