Minimize Water Use and Increase Comfort in Desert Landscapes

Minimize the total number of big plants in a landscape

This tree is out of scale with the house. It doesn't need to be that big. It only needs to shade the walls and windows. The bigger the tree, the more water it uses.

Water is a scarce resource in the desert. Its price will always increase. Lowering landscape temperatures and irrigation go hand in hand. If water is used wisely, temperatures will decrease where water is applied. Plants always require water when growing in the desert. Wherever plants are planted in the landscape, water is needed. Large mature sized plants require more and more water as they grow bigger and bigger.

Do three things to your landscape to become efficient in its water use; preserve only the plants that provide you and your home the most cooling and pleasure, improve the irrigation system, and learn how to water. The last one, “learn how to water”, should be first. Learning how to water landscape plants enlightens the others.

Shade the south and west sides, walls and windows of your home and outside sitting areas

Create sitting areas with shade from plants or nonplants. Nonplants don't use water.

This type of irrigation creates “oasis landscapes”, perfect for the desert. Plan to apply the most water to “oasis” areas. Trees and shrubs provide the most cooling for homes and sitting areas. There is nothing wrong with open areas, but they will be hotter. Make these open areas interesting to look at.

Shade doesn’t have to come from plants

Shade also comes from man-made structures. Concrete and steel structures are the best choices for desert climates and don’t use water. There is nothing wrong with artwork in landscapes. Consider man-made structures in combination with vines or smaller plants instead of trees. Small plants use less water than big plants. Where are large plants found in the desert?

Concrete and steel structures are more durable in the desert.

Drip irrigation is among the most efficient ways of irrigating plants

But if you don’t know how to use it, it’s no better than flooding the landscape with water. Plants growing above 3 feet tall should be watered less frequently. Roots of tall plants will find water applied to the smaller plants and adjust their root growth to where water is applied in these areas.

Bubbler and basin irrigation can be just as efficient and easier to install for large trees as drip. Just keep the basins repaired and enlarged as the trees grow.

A well-designed irrigation system and the knowledge how to use it puts you in charge of watering rather than the landscape telling you when it needs water.