| By :
Stephen Daniels
You can have a beautiful high-desert yard that is both easy to maintain and low on water use. But if you have never created such a landscape, it's a good idea to consult an expert landscape designer. These professionals will help you take on some of the special climate challenges with some advanced planning. High desert areas are defined as being over 2,000 feet above sea level and receiving less than 10 inches of precipitation per year. As a result, your yard will have to handle low moisture, occasional gusty winds and dramatic temperature changes. There may also be watering restrictions imposed by your local government. You and your landscape contractor will need to spend some time discussing: * Budget * Ability or desire to do routine maintenance * Soil composition and amendments required, or suitability of plants for the soil that is there * A landscape design using natural slopes (or some artfully crafted ones) that allow available water to flow downhill to your thirstiest plans * Drip irrigation * Grouping plants with similar water needs together * Use of native species that are adapted to the climate, known as xeriscaping Before your first trip to the nursery, consider the size of your yard, the pattern of sun and shade and what kind of a result you desire. If you prefer a simpler style, look into trees and plants that will not interfere with each other. For drainage issues, you will also need to consider what materials and equipment are necessary to fix them. The use of a good drip-irrigation system can address maintenance and water-use issues simultaneously. For example, emitters can help by automatically regulating the water flow rate to different groupings. By using photovoltaic timers that turn the water on when the sunlight fades and the daylight heat drops, you will conserve water and your plants will have their thirst quenched more efficiently. Once this irrigation setup is in place, your maintenance work is very much reduced. An interesting way to cut down on your energy use is to plant appropriate shrubs and trees around your air conditioning unit. This can increase its cooling efficiency by 10 percent. Conversely, the trees you install around your patio and other areas of your house can allow more light in during the darker months when they shed their leaves, and of course, welcome shade during hotter months. If your yard has plenty of rocks, you might think about incorporating them into a rock garden. Augment your rocks with boulders of varying sizes and colors, and plant succulents such as ice plants, aloe vera or scarlett paintbrush. In addition, the use of mulch around your plants helps slow down heat build-up, control weed growth and holds in moisture longer. Approached with some planning and expert help, your high-desert home can be graced by some very beautiful, unique and planet-friendly landscaping.
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