Tucson summers are notoriously dry. Anyone who has survived a summer in the Old Pueblo is very familiar with the local catchphrase: “It’s a dry heat”. While low humidity does make the heat a little more tolerable for Tucson residents, it can put lots of stress on your landscape. To ensure that your landscape thrives throughout the summer and year-round, you should emphasize a drought-proof strategy in your Tucson landscape design. Here is a closer look at some Southwest landscaping ideas to explore with the experts here at Horticulture Unlimited.
Consider Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is a landscaping technique that is designed to minimize or even eliminate the need for irrigation and daily watering. Often, homeowners assume that xeriscaping means maintaining a barren yard filled with rocks and a few cacti. However, it is possible to create award winning landscape projects using xeriscaping. Many diverse plants are native to the Sonoran Desert, meaning you can create a lush, colorful landscape that does not require additional water to maintain.
Utilize Water-Wise Landscaping Techniques
Water-wise landscaping and xeriscaping follow many of the same principles. However, while xeriscaping focuses more on plant selection and soil preparation, water-wise landscaping emphasizes techniques like minimizing turf areas and hydrozoning your plants. Turf grass has high water demands, so it’s ideal to swap it out for drought-tolerant groundcover plants like sedum. With hydrozoning, you can further optimize water usage by grouping plants with similar watering needs together for more targeted watering.
Incorporate Plenty of Native Plants
Native plants have adapted to Arizona’s hot, dry climate, so they are well equipped to survive harsh summer conditions. There are tons of native plants to the Sonoran Desert, including large trees like the blue Palo Verde, desert willow, and screwbean mesquite. Native cacti, shrubs, and groundcovers will allow you to layer your landscape and add lots of color to your Tucson landscape design. Working with professional landscaping services will allow you to get expert recommendations for your native plant selections so that you can create your perfect backyard oasis.
Utilize Smart Technology
Having a drought-proof yard doesn’t necessarily mean using no water at all to maintain your landscape. You just want to minimize water usage where possible and optimize your watering habits with the right irrigation design and watering schedule. Leveraging the power of smart technology, you can automate your watering schedule, ensuring that plants are watered at the right time to minimize evaporation and maximize absorption. Using a programmed drip irrigation system will also ensure that water is delivered directly to plant roots.
Horticulture Unlimited has been recognized for award winning landscape projects throughout Tucson that showcase the beauty of Arizona’s native plants. See what’s possible with low-water landscape designs by contacting us to discuss your Tucson landscape design. Our work has been consistently recognized by the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association, and we are proud to offer exceptional landscaping services that highlight the unique beauty and resilience of the Sonoran Desert. Contact us today to schedule a landscape design consultation with our team.