Home
Find a Landscaper
Contact Me
Ebooks Front Yard Design
Landscape Trees
Landscaping Costs
Patio Design
Evergreen Shrubs
Design Services Online Design
3D Landscapes
New Jersey Designs
Pictures & Videos Landscape Pictures
Hardscape Design
Project Photos
Hardscapes Patio Designs
Driveway Designs
Walkway Designs
Retaining Walls
Landscape Steps
Deck Ideas
Paving Materials Paving Costs
Concrete Designs
Pavers
Brick
Travertine Pavers
Bluestone Patios
Design With Stone
Water Swimming Pools
Waterfall Designs
Water Features
Design Ideas Landscaping Slopes
Front Yard Design
Backyard Landscape
Landscaping Ideas
Landscape Grading
Garden Features Landscape Structures
Pergolas
Outdoor Audio
Fountains
Fencing
Landscape Lighting
Plants Landscape Plants
Landscape Trees
Evergreen Trees
Ornamental Trees
Perennial Flowers
Other Info The Landscape Blog
Search
Privacy Policy
Newsletter Sign Up
_blog
Site Index
Ask A Question!
About Me
About This Site
[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

DESERT OASIS DESIRED - Backyard Landscape

by ELIZABETH
(SO. CAIFORNIA)

JUST A BUNCH OF GRASS

JUST A BUNCH OF GRASS

WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE OUR BACKYARD LOW MAINTENANCE AND WE WERE PLANNING ON USING CACTUS AND DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANTS.ANY IDEAS FOR THIS HUGE L-SHAPED BACK YARD ABOUT 60X60 FEET?

ANSWER
Without getting into the details of specific plants, I would consider doing the following for your backyard landscape.

1. Use tall plants against the wall to hide it and make it more of a green space. There are vertical gardens you can create....similar to green roofs, but vertical.

2. When adding plants against the rear of the house, I would use trees in the corners to frame it and add some height.

3. How about one or more shade trees in the lawn?

4. In an area that is a visual focal point from either where you sit outside or a view from a window, add a water feature. It can be as simple as a bird bath with running water.

I hope this has given you some useful ideas.

Susan




Comments for
DESERT OASIS DESIRED - Backyard Landscape

Click here to add your own comments

THANKS BILL
by: Anonymous

THANKS BILL FOR THE GREAT IDEAS!! AS FOR YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW ARIZONA ARE WE WANTING TO GO. WE ARE THINKING ABOUT TAKING OUT ALL THE GRASS EXCEPT A SMALL AREA BEHIND THE GARAGE FOR THE DOGS. PUT IN A SWIMMING POOL, A FIRE PIT WITH SEATING AND ALL THE REST OF THE YARD SHOULD BE MAINTENANCE FREE. THE BACK GRAY WALL WE ARE NOW INSTALLING FOUR RETAINING HALF MOON SHAPED PLANTING AREAS WHICH I CAN FILL WITH SOME OF THE PLANTINGS YOU SUGGESTED. AS FOR HOW THE REST OF IT WILL PLAY OUT I AM NOT SURE. GRAVEL? FLAGSTONE? POTTED PLANTS? TREES?
How much Arizona?
by: Bill Kisich

I'm a Landscape Designer in Phoenix. One question I have to ask many time of clients that have recently moved to the desert is, how much Arizona do you really want? Most people want something a bit more lush then the true desert look, but not always. Can you describe your vision a little more?

One thing to think about, desert landscaping is about geology almost as much as horticulture. Are you thinking boulders and elevation changes? You can use boulders in groups to shore up mounds and plant ground covers to spill over. Back this up with some accent agaves like Desmettiana, Gemniflora, Murphyii, or Vilmoriniana.

Or other spiky plants like Desert Spoon - (Dasylirion wheeleri), Yucca Pendula (recurvifolia), Blue Yucca (rigida), or Hesperaloe parviflora make great accents.

Probabaly the most popular ground cover here is Lantana camara and montevidensis. Number two would probably be Myoporum parvifolium or Wedelia trilobata, then maybe Creeping Germander (teucrium chamedrys prostratum.

Grasses are a great choice for an oasis look. Pink Muhly (Muhlenbergia Capillaris), and the larger Side Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) are very graceful and can be mesmerizing.

I don't live in the LA area, so I'm not sure if any of these plants will really thrive there, but it might be a place to start.

Good luck,
Bill
ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS?
by: Anonymous

thank you but i feel i am wanting more of an "Arizona style" back yard

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Landscape Design Questions & Answers





Copyright 2007-2012 Landscape-Design-Advice.com
Call 908-574-5177
or
Click Here To Email



Follow Us

Newsletter Signup




Online Landscape Design
Read all about my online design services and see sample designs.

Testimonials

Susan,
Thank you for all that you did to help beautify our little plot of paradise. We enjoyed working with you – thanks.
Ken, New York State


Oh my!!!!!!!!!! It is beautiful.
Lori, Indiana


Hi Susan,
Thank you for putting so much thought into the design. We really like it, especially the curvilinear shape with clean lines. I love the curved seat wall and hypothetical placement of furniture, the shape of the path, etc. Thanks again for all your help.

I'm getting excited about the plan becoming reality sometime soon.
Elaine, Pennsylvania




New Jersey Services
Design and consultation services for NJ residents.

Landscape Design Awards

Superior Excellence
Naturalistic Pool Award

Superior Excellence
Planting Design Award

Certificate of Merit
Formal Garden Award



Ebooks



Front Yards


Trees


Patio Plans


Landscaping Costs


Evergreen Shrubs



Looking For a Landscaper?

Here is a great way to find just the right one. I have used this company myself. And it is free! Go to Find a Landscaper




Discover Outdoor Entertainment


Outdoor Entertainment

Outdoor audio is big! And now for the latest technology...control everything with your iPad or a remote control.