Western Desert Yard Ideas

Climate Considerations

• Everything about the desert environment is intense. Because there’s little to no humidity blocking the sun’s rays, heating by day and cooling by night are two times stronger than other climates. Long dry spells are interrupted by sudden, flooding downpours.

  Seasons vary by altitude. In the Southwest’s Sonoran, Chihuahuan and Mojave deserts, there are two growing seasons. May and June are generally the driest months. In the Northwest’s Great Basin desert a long, cold winter includes ample snowfall; in higher altitudes under the right conditions, it can snow at any time of year.

Yard Guards

• The backbone of your yard design should include adequate drainage, windbreaks and shaded areas. Dust-blocking smooth walls, which snakes can’t climb, are preferable to open fencing that catches tumbleweeds and blowing trash. An enclosure is mandatory for pools and useful for all water elements because they tend to attract a variety of critters, particularly during droughts.

Succulent Choices

• The many varieties of Agave, (Agave spp.), the century plant, are a desert gardener’s "A" team, including Agave parryi, reliably hardy to zone 7 and possibly hardy to zone 5 if the ground doesn’t get too wet. Vanilla-streaked Agave guiengola “Crème Brulee” adds variegated flair in zones 9 and 10. There are dozens of other agave options for massed or stand-alone impact. In colder climates, plant them in containers and bring them indoors for winter.

  Other succulent choices in USDA zones 10 and 11 include vivid, easy-grow blue chalk sticks (Senecio mandraliscae). Consider scented South American anchor plant (Colletia paradoxa), hardy to USDA zone 8, for a dramatic statement.

Natural Windbreaks

• The flowering evergreen tree Ovens Wattle (Acacia pravissima) is hardy in zones 8 to 11, where it grows up to 20 feet tall. Desert Sage (Salvii Dorrii), a zone 5 to 9 flowering semi-woody shrub, grows to 18 inches tall, forming a sturdy, attractive and aromatic high-country hedge. Try masses of Penstemon (Penstemon spp.), a bird, bee and butterfly favorite available in 250 vividly colored varieties, some hardy to USDA zone 3.

  Shrubs are attractive camouflage for air conditioning units or rain-collection systems.

Sod-Free Groundcovers

• Leave high-maintenance lawns to the golf course; keep the grass (feathery ornamental varieties) in easy-care flower beds. Quick-draining pea gravel, sand, pavers, slabs and recycled synthetic flooring choices come in many colors and price ranges. Try maple-syrup toned pebbles, bleached-blond sand, gray-green river cobble or boldly patterned Spanish-inspired tiles.

Furniture and Accessories

• Choose fade- and shred-resistant fabrics that stand up to punishing rays. Check plastics and paint or stain finishes for durability; some degrade rapidly in prolonged exposure to sunlight.

  Arrange separate areas for dining, solo lounging and group entertaining linked together by a welcoming focal point, such as a fire pit. Common materials and accent colors pull the look together. Earthy terracotta, rosy clay and ruddy adobe glow in the natural light. White is reflective. Dark colors absorb heat; avoid using them on seating and planters in direct sun. Arrange at least one seating area for a picture-perfect view of the sun as it sets in the western sky.