Arizona Landscaping Ideas

Fencing

• Most Arizona homeowners fence some or all of their yards for privacy. Many locations require safety fences around pools. Create your fences with cement blocks, wood slats or chain link. You can front the fence with hedges or flowers to soften the look.

Lawns

• Desert lawns cost money. They demand constant care and extra water. Although you may want a small lawn for children or pets to play, you can create attractive areas without grass. One alternative, artificial turf, provides a safe place for children to play. It does not require as much maintenance and drops no debris in pools.

Outdoor Kitchen

• The Arizona climate encourages outdoor activities and entertaining. Evenings can be pleasant, even when days are hot. To entertain, consider installing an outdoor kitchen. Depending on your lifestyle and budget, you could install a gas grill and oven. Surround it with built-in cabinets, a sink, bar and refrigerator. Arrange comfortable seating nearby. For a smaller budget, install a gas grill or fireplace and add a few lawn chairs and a table.

Boulders

• Many Arizona landscapes feature boulders of all sizes. Alone or in groups, they define or accent areas in your yard. Boulders and rocks require no water and no maintenance. They do not drop debris and, sometimes, you can obtain them free.

Trees

• Native desert trees thrive in Arizona landscapes, requiring little extra water once established. They provide shade to cool the area. The Chilean mesquite tree, or Prosopis chilensis, combines the advantages of the mesquite tree with the lack of thorns. It grows up to 40 feet tall with bright green foliage that drops in the winter.

  The Arizona Municipal Water Users Association states that the desert willow, or Chilopsis linearis, produces pink, white or lavender blooms throughout the summer. It grows up to 25 feet tall. This tree forms seedpods that are decorative but may create litter around pools.

Cacti and Other Succulents

• Many succulent plants grow in the southwestern desert that grow nowhere else. They are all drought-tolerant and most tolerate extreme temperatures. The giant prickly pear cactus, or Opuntia robusta, commonly grows throughout the southwest. It can become 3 feet high and branches out from the center. Dave Creech, director of Stephen F. Austin State University Gardens, describes dinner-plate-size blue pads. In spring, it produces large yellow blooms, followed by edible fruit. Because of the thorns in the cactus pads, avoid planting them close to doorways or walkways.

  The century plant, or Agave americana, grows slowly to become 7 feet tall and 8 feet across. The University of Arizona describes this as a specimen plant, suitable as an accent. This thick-leaved succulent does not bloom until about 10 years old, and then it dies. Because the pointed leaves are dangerous, keep the plant away from walkways and doorways and use them in safe locations. These plants need little maintenance.