A Landscaper in Las Vegas Showcases Backyards in Low-Water Areas
With roughly 10 inches of average annual rainfall, Nevada is the driest state in the United States. Consequently, this is something that could affect your Las Vegas landscape and your outdoor living spaces. If you’re having some trouble keeping things growing and thriving in your backyard, a landscaper in Las Vegas can help. Below, you’ll find some tips to keep in mind that could help you enjoy the many perks of having a beautifully landscaped backyard in Vegas, even in low-water areas.
Tip #1 from a Landscaper in Las Vegas: Consider Check Dams
Dating back to pre-Roman times, check dams are a simple and effective feature. A landscaper in Las Vegas may recommend these for low-water area backyards. Create check dams by strategically placing landscape rocks in a way that forms a temporary barrier. As a result, the water starts to pool. It can then be directed toward the living parts of your landscape in Las Vegas.
Check dams offer the added perk of reducing runoff, which minimizes the loss of essential soil nutrients your bushes, shrubs, grassy areas, and flowering and non-flowering plants need. They can also become an attractive landscape element if you use decorative rocks or stones or experiment with arrangements. These temporary dams tend to work best for gardens with a downward curve. If you can’t take advantage of gravity all that much, make sure there’s sufficient ground cover in the target area(s) to prevent soil erosion and retain moisture.
A similar and more dramatic approach to landscaping in Las Vegas for the same purpose is a dry creek. Consisting of smooth river rocks or other uniform stones, dry creeks direct the flow of water in backyards in low-water areas with rocks arranged in a creek-like shape. What’s more, this hardscape feature creates a stunning visual element for your yard. Enhance the edges of your dry creek with various grasses to make it fit into your landscape better.
Tip #2: Explore Possibilities with Drought-Resistant Plants
Another way to manage a backyard landscape in Las Vegas is to include drought-resistant plants in your preferred arrangement. Drought-tolerant plants get their name from adapting to remain healthy and vibrant for longer periods of time without significant amounts of water. But this doesn’t mean you have to abandon plants you already have that you wish to keep. What you could do, however, is replace some of your more high-water usage plants with drought-resistant options. Possibilities include:
• Yarrow
• Dudleya
• Coyote mint
• Manzanita
• Fountain grass
• Aloe
• Artemisia – includes an assortment of hearty herbs and shrubs
• Artichoke plants
• Beardtongue plants
• Many varieties of geraniums
With cacti and succulents alone, there are literally thousands of species to choose from as you explore and make your selections. You’re welcome to go with a single species or mix and match if you prefer more variety in your backyard landscape. Silver- and felt-leafed plants also tend to do well in low-water areas. Deeper-hued vegetation, for the most part, usually withstands a lack of natural moisture well, too. This allows for more options for your backyard landscape.
Tip #3: Reduce Grassy Spots and Consider Rocks or Gravel
A common issue with a backyard landscape in Las Vegas that’s in a low-water area is dry or brown spots on the lawn. However, there are a few ways to handle this concern. One possibility is to ask a landscaper in Las Vegas about sprinkler options. These can be installed in a discrete and effective way.
Another option to toy around with when creating a water-wise exterior space is replacing some of your grassy spots with attractive and durable landscape rocks or stones. Decorative gravel can serve the same purpose. With gravel yards, you can replace entire high-maintenance sections of your yard. Make such areas more attractive with some of the drought-resistant plants mentioned above. And while you may automatically think of gray when gravel is mentioned, you have many choices with gravel. Different colors and textures can make your landscape visually delightful.
Similarly, if you only have certain spaces in your backyard impacted by a lack of sufficient water, rock gardens are worth considering. These are “garden” spots created with a mix of rocks in varying sizes and shapes. Even boulders can give you a more natural look in a rock garden with a good portion of these boulders buried in the soil. The rocks can also be arranged in a way that gives you space for drought-tolerant plants and succulents. Round out rock garden spaces with ground-cover plants and you’ll be all set!
Lastly, realize it doesn’t have to be all or nothing if you hire a landscaper to replace grass with gravel or landscape rocks. A Las Vegas landscape specialist can help you find a happy mix of natural landscape elements and hardscape features in a way that minimizes water demands without sacrificing aesthetics. For instance, if you like to entertain, expand your deck or patio to give you more space to enjoy outdoor living. Gravel can then be used for the more high-maintenance spots in the rest of your backyard. However, smaller, more manageable grassy areas can still be created if you prefer to retain a traditional lawn to some extent.