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8 Design and Planting Solutions to Add Structure and Form to Dry Gardens

 Desert Landscaping Ideas 



Deciding on desert landscaping ideas can seem daunting at first, but there are many inspiring plant combinations, head-turning looks, and design choices you can use to transform a hot, dusty yard. Although not many flowers and colorful flowers are included, there are plenty of plant shapes, enchanting textures and details to play with. From soaring cacti, captivating succulents, to tactile tussocks of drought-tolerant landscape plants, there are plenty of opportunities to create a stylish and practical outdoor space using clever and drought-tolerant planting ideas.


1. Combine shade trees



Mature trees are dramatic and valued features of any desert landscape. Often standing alone, set against the horizon or barren surroundings, they make striking sculptural statements and provide shelter for birds and wildlife, as well as casting valuable shade.


If you are lucky enough to have existing trees on your land, make sure they are well maintained and design your landscape around them. If you're starting a garden from scratch, incorporate some fast-growing trees into your design.


2. Showcase Sculpture Cactus


With their iconic shapes and bold silhouettes, cacti are synonymous with dry, arid landscapes and are ideal for gardeners living in southern regions such as US hardiness zone 10. One of the best desert plants to grow, they can make any fun, visual statement. Part of the courtyard.


Grow small specimens in containers and group them together in a courtyard or entryway if you want to create a contemporary feel for added emphasis. Tall species—such as the organ pipe and candelabra—can be framed dramatically against a smooth wall


3. Create balance with cooling plants



Plants have many practical uses, including providing food and shelter for wildlife, binding collapsing banks and improving soil health, and helping to protect outdoor areas from wind, sun and rain.


As Elliot Rose explains, they can also have a cooling effect. 'The plants themselves reduce the temperature of the surrounding air through evaporation, so it is generally better to plant more. For ground covers, we like to use sedum varieties like Angelina and Blue Spruce; Myoporum if we're going for a more succulent look or Dymondia and Creeping Thyme if we're going for a softer look.


4. Add night blooming plants


Make your evenings more enjoyable by growing drought tolerant plants. 'Near the house or along paths, I like to add night-blooming plants such as stomatium or evening primrose, Oenothera fremonti 'Shimmer', which will improve backyard pollinator resources by evening and set the stage for outdoor dinners in late summer. says horticulturist Lauren Carvalho.


Other fragrant twilight beauties include dianthus with its clove-scented flower rosettes, annual tuberose and the spectacular angel's trumpet, with its shapely hanging flowers. If you find yourself mesmerized by these scented night stars, create a moon garden perfect for relaxing stargazing.


5. Use light-colored landscaping materials



Reflect the sun's rays and reduce retained heat by choosing pale tones in your yard's hardscape. Whether for paving, walls, gravel gardens or pool coping, these light, bright tones contribute to cool temperatures and represent a timeless style, perfect for any modern backyard project.


"It's important to use light-colored paving surfaces in hot, dry climates," says San Francisco-based landscape designer Elliot Rose. ‘Generally, we avoid dark colors or dense materials like concrete. It's a good idea to consider using materials that don't act as heat sinks, such as floor coverings or soft materials.


6. Choose the right mulch for your land


In dry climates, mulch is important for retaining moisture and keeping soil temperatures stable, but not all mulches are created equal. 'Wood or bark-based mulches are not always ideal for desert landscapes,' says Lauren Carvalho.


Instead, choose crushed gravel mulch, crushed fines, or expanded shale. This mulch will clump together and provide better protection for dry plantings than a round stone like pea gravel. While it's common practice to lay down landscaping fabric as a weed barrier, before laying it down in bulk, Lauren has a word of caution. 'Avoid using weed-blocking fabric on garden beds as it can prevent weeds from emerging, often preventing them from reaching your plants and warming the ground.'



7. Grow drought tolerant plants



It seems obvious, but the horticultural principle of 'right plant, right place' is especially important in hot, dry zones. Master gardener Tabar Gifford explains, 'It's not necessary to eliminate all living things to conserve water, but by xeriscaping your yard, you can create a beautiful, blooming, resilient landscape. Designing your space with resource conservation in mind saves water while supporting healthy soil, pollinators, birds and other wildlife.


There are many options when choosing ground cover plants. 'My personal favorites for hot dry climates include ice plants,' says Tabar. You might think these plants like cool weather, but they can tolerate the extreme heat and cold you'll find in the desert and high altitudes. They also thrive in poor, infertile, well-drained soils, a must-have for enjoying a desert landscape.



8. Combine BERMED areas for interest throughout the year


Creating warm and dry garden areas is an artful design trick that adds interest and form to landscapes. A simple earthen mound, often consisting of boulders, rockeries and gravel, can create a natural-looking, undulating landscape that emphasizes its surroundings and architecture.


These man-made features are also useful in directing stormwater to where it is most needed. For example, berms, called mounds, can be built around trees or shrubs, not only to highlight their shape, but also to direct water to the roots rather than simply running off. Planting small succulents like echeveria, haworthia and sempervivum is a great way to show off their intricate shapes and foliage tones. Separate them with rivers of pebbles and rocks.

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