Lush Native Desert Landscape Designs

There are always many considerations when choosing a landscape design in any region of the United States. Arizona landscaping designs should focus on the unique needs of homeowners and businesses here in the desert southwest and how to serve those needs while creating beautiful and optimally functional outdoor spaces.

Fortunately, the gorgeous Sonoran Desert is the world’s most lush desert environment, with the highest annual rainfall of any desert in the world. That means that there are vast varieties of cactus, tree, and flowering plant options that thrive here but could not survive in other desert regions. (Even the Mojave just to the north and the Chihuahua just to the south of us cannot support the incredible natural diversity that we enjoy here in our utterly unique superabundant desert environment.)

Let’s explore some of the unique and exciting possibilities for Arizona landscape design choices!

Flourishing Lush Native Desert Landscapes

Tree and plant combinations for landscaping designs that mimic the indigenous Sonoran Desert growth and, if desired, create denser versions for the richest natural settings of gorgeous and virtually maintenance-free outdoor desert living spaces. For an aesthetically and functionally satisfying outdoor space to enjoy here in the valley, you’ll want to consider these factors when choosing desert landscape materials:

Aesthetic Composition: Balancing the need for climate mitigation from well-selected vegetation around desert homes against water preservation needs and the desire for optimum aesthetic quality can be challenging without professional assistance. With a desert landscape designed by Think Green, you can realize your aesthetic vision for your property and cool your outdoor (and indoor) living space without excessive environmental impact.

Watering Needs: An estimated 70 percent of all water used in Arizona is for landscape maintenance and other outdoor uses. That staggering figure highlights the importance of managing outdoor water consumption. So, many homeowners choose a minimalist landscape approach. Fortunately, there are options for people who prefer more lush vegetation with plants that consume less water and a highly-efficient program for irrigation. Proper irrigation installation and maintenance and plants chosen for their high aesthetic impact and low water consumption offer the ideal balance.

Long-Term Durability: In the unique Sonoran desert climate of southern Arizona, especially here in the Phoenix valley, trees and plants do not have to withstand the extreme seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation as in other areas of North America. But, they must be compatible with seasonal weather patterns that bring extreme heat, blowing dust, and flooding from monsoon rains.

Maintenance Needs: Whatever landscape design you choose, it makes sense in the desert environment to consider grouping trees and plants based on their species’ relative needs for watering, sunlight, mulching, fertilization, pruning, and pest control.

Beautiful Landscape Compositions

At first look, it may seem to many people that the landscaping design alternatives in a desert are very limited. But, in a locale like Scottsdale and greater south central Arizona, the choices of landscape styles and beautiful hearty trees and plants are wide-ranging. Just a few of the most popular options in landscape design styles include, for example:

Organic Desert-Scape 

You may prefer a minimalist landscape aesthetic that mimics the surrounding natural area. That may mean just an array of cacti spaced consistently to blend with the open desert bordering your neighborhood. That could involve simply leaving the existing saguaros, ocotillos, and agaves, mesquites, Palos Verdes, and ironwoods in place, or other cacti, succulents, and trees already populating your property. You may consider adding some decorative gravel with a few young cactus plantings and succulents along walkways and around seating areas. Just add a pergola or other source of shade for comfort.

Sonoran Sanctuary 

You might consider creating a cooling, covered outdoor seating area with a pergola or a solid attached or detached roof, a cooking area, a fire pit, and other features of fine outdoor living. Your landscape designer can create beautiful vignettes of flowering plants that flourish here in Arizona, like lantana and verbena, and annuals, like zinnias and petunias, add beautiful textures and colors to soften the desert environment around seating areas and pool decks. Irrigated grass areas maximize luxury landscaping in the desert.

Palm Paradise

People love palm trees because of their striking appearance, breezy quality, and durability in the hot temperatures of the desert. Adding smaller, younger trees or even majestic mature palm trees makes any desert-scape look more lush and inviting. You can add other sub-tropical florae, such as a few lemon or lime trees, along with varying sizes and species of indigenous cacti species that bloom spectacularly beautiful colorful flowers in season.

Desert Oasis

The cooling effects of the lushest desert landscape designs transform desert properties into private wonderlands. Choose highly curated professional installations of scaling mixed clusters of cacti species against flowering plants and beds of colorful ground cover for the ultimate outdoor space. Such magazine-quality landscapes often hug around stone or tile walkways, patios, and pool decks nestled among rich green, densely planted foliage.

The Goldilocks Zone of Desert Landscaping

Living in the best desert climate zone for widely diverse and unusually lush vegetation offers an unparalleled range of opportunities for homeowners to create just about any amazing outdoor living space imaginable. But, of course, plans for beautiful, functional, and long-lasting creations of outdoor living spaces are only as successful as the quality of materials, and the landscaping professionals you work with. Therefore, above all, before you embark on upgrading the exterior spaces of your property, thoroughly vet candidates for your landscaping design and installation.

Why Choose Think Green Design for Your Landscape?

We have been building award-winning gorgeous desert landscapes on private properties for many years. We have built our reputation by taking the time to get to know our clients and understand their needs and desires for their properties in Arizona. We match our design and landscape development skills to your vision for upgrading your outdoor living space.

For a landscape design that will make your experience of your outdoor living space all that you have hoped for and more, call Think Green Design at (480) 922-9497, or contact us here online!