Xeriscaping and Desert Gardens: Design and Maintenance

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Xeriscaping and Desert Gardens: Design and Maintenance

In a nutshell, xeriscaping is landscaping using plants that do not require watering above the normal rainfall for your area. Typically advocated in areas prone to drought, such as Nevada, or where the pace of development is outstripping water reserves, such as Los Angeles, xeriscaping provides a great way to have a good looking garden without overtaxing the water supply.

Xeriscaping and desert gardens both require designing gardens that minimize rainwater runoff and evaporation. An interesting selection of flowers, grasses, cacti, shrubs, vegetables and trees can do very well in low water environments, which provides numerous exciting design opportunities for a desert garden. Plants commonly used in both types of gardens include cacti, agave, lavender, juniper, thymes and various kinds of sedums. Semi-tropical plants survive in protected desert areas as well.

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