Low Maintenance Backyard Ideas for Arizona Landscapes

Layering and Designing Your Landscape

Landscaping your backyard for optimal health and beauty can quickly become an overwhelming task, especially if you live in an arid environment like Arizona. It's important to understand the local weather patternshot, dry summers and cooler, wet wintersand use it to your advantage when designing outdoor living spaces. It's also key to plan ahead and keep maintenance and water usage in mind. To help you get started, here are a few low-maintenance backyard ideas for Arizona.

Layering with Plants and Other Features

Layering your landscape allows for an efficient use of space and diversity in your garden. It also provides a physical barrier from intense wind and sun. Start with establishing paths and creating outdoor living spaces for increased functionality and accessibility. Incorporate trees to provide shade, like native arizona ash and desert willow, and shrubs like desert lavender and yucca for their striking blooms. Strategic placement of plants across various depths not only act as privacy screens, but they also use less water than grasses and perennials.

Design Tips for Defining Water Conservation

Incorporating native plants and shrubs in your backyard can help reduce water consumption as nature intended. Additionally, controlling runoff through rain barrels and other catchment systems can help keep the soil healthy and your water bill lower. Also, limit turf. If you have an area dedicated solely to grass or another type of spreadout, implement water friendly drip irrigation systems that focus on promoting root growth and keeping the water in the soil. Lastly, for areas surrounding your house, increase the amount of native grasses that don't need to be watered as often.

Recycled Materials and Color

Using recycled materials in the landscape is a great way to add texture and visual interest without having to buy new materials. For instance, flag stones, river rocks, and pebbles are great materials to create pathways and incorporat into patios. If you want to save even more money, consider using found items like fallen tree branches, used tires, or different pieces of wood to build raised beds, planters, and low walls around outdoor living spaces.

Incorporating Color

Yet another way to liven up your backyard is by adding color. Intense temperature fluctuations and bright sunlight can create color challenges, but there are a few plants adaptations you can incorporate. For instance, there are desert poppies, blue-eyed grass, coral meadows, and chanterelles. Additionally, judicious use of drought-tolerant annuals like celosia, amaranth, and snapdragons can create a colorful display for your outdoor space without having to constantly water them.

Conclusion and Takeaways

At the end of the day, careful thought and planning can help you create a beautiful backyard that is both aesthetically pleasing and low maintenance. Consider layering both plants and high-impact materials to create a diverse microclimate. Also, be conscious about water consumption with strategically placed native plants and incorporating water-wise irrigation systems. Finally, find plants that can resist extreme temperature fluctuations and strategically incorporate color to bring your outdoor space to life. With these low-maintenance tips, you'll be able to create an outdoor living oasis in Arizona.

Final Word: Planning and designing a low-maintenance backyard in an arid state like Arizona requires thoughtful consideration, but the end result is definitely worth it. Incorporating native plants, strategic layering, and drought-tolerant annuals are all viable options that can help bring your vision to life.

Source:

1. Low-Maintenance Landscaping Ideas for Any Backyard. (2020, April 28). Retrieved from https://thenortherngardener.com/low-maintenance-landscaping-ideas-for-any-backyard/

2. Planting and Landsacape Guide for the Arizona Desert. (2020). Retrieved from https://cals.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplnts/plantarizona.html