In the hot and dry Southwestern United States, landscaping takes on an entirely different significance than in other areas. As water is so precious here, conservation is a major concern of both home owners and government officials. But desert home owners don't have to sacrifice beauty just because of the lack of water. Dry landscaping is an excellent way to make a landscape unusual and eye-catching, while using minimal water resources.

If you have a desert environment there are many things that you can still do to transform it into something you can be proud of. Make sure you research about flowers and plants to see what can survive in the conditions that you are faced with.

Living in a dry and arid climate, your dry landscaping is going to take a little more planning than some other parts of the country. Desert landscapers will have to work with a plan that includes only plants and trees that can survive with much less water than other gardeners get to work with. There is no point in planting something if it can not sustain itself afterwards. So take some time with your dry landscaping plan and make sure that you have done everything suited to the climate.

To start with you will need to do quite a bit of research. Because the soil is not the best, and the climate may be difficult, it does require a lot of thought. You need to have some idea on what look you want to achieve, and then see if it is at all possible to accomplish.

Cacti are the most popular and versatile plant in desert landscaping. When shopping for cacti for your dry landscaping you will find a large variety in sizes, shapes and colors. You will be surprised when you learn that there are cacti several feet tall and others small as a couple of inches. Flowers are not uncommon in cacti, and the variety is also large, though they don't bloom for a long time. One exception is the prickly pear, named after its fruit. This cactus produces a beautiful yellow flower in summertime.

Drought-resistant plants compliment dry rock landscaping well. The native southwestern plants are generally sun-loving and water-wise. Careful research will reveal low maintenance and low water use plants perfect for this type of landscape. Many of the cactus varieties are good choices, as are juniper, lamb's ear, and other perennial plants that can withstand year after year with little water.

What makes using desert landscaping friendly plants so great is that not only will these plants do well even in the hot sun they will also be able to thrive in poor quality soil. This is a much needed quality because places that have so much sun tend to have poor soil as well. So in essence you are killing two birds with one stone as they say.

Natural rocks and stone are perfect ways to make a home's landscape blend into the native environment. Rocks bring out the beauty and diversity of nature. Natural rocks can be obtained in many different sizes, shapes, and even colors. From black lava rock, to gray granite, to white limestone, your choice won't be an easy one.

In order to decide which colors to use you will first want to create that plan, mentioned earlier, which will help you to decide what colors will best create the look you want to develop. Perhaps you just want to stick to natural looking stone, and if so that is fine. Natural stone will create a natural look, in turn creating an even more peaceful environment.

As there is such a wide variety of stone to choose from, you should find something to suit both you and your landscaping needs. The various colors available allow you to create an unique look which will make your landscape a one of a kind.

With the desert being so dry and hot, a water feature would also come in quite handy, and it tends to give an extremely classy look as well as adding charm. A fountain or pond is a fun and creative way to make a significant change in your desert landscape.

There are some great benefits of adding lights to your landscape area. Not only do they add a touch of class, but they can add a sense of security to the garden area, and to the house as well. The lights can really help to brighten up any dark area around the yard, and they can also make it easy to see at night when you are out in the garden. They also help the landscape look quite impressive and adds that little something extra to the balance. They really are an inexpensive way of adding extra charm and style to any dry landscape.

The fact of the matter is, even in hot and dry desert-like areas, landscapes can still be designed to be attractive yet conservative. And often a lush garden can hardly compare to the charm and creativity found in dry landscaping.