While Xeriscaping is most often thought of as a design style, it’s actually a set of principles and methods for creating water wise landscapes and gardens regardless of style. Still, when a client tells me they want a xeriscape design, most times they really mean they want something that is of the desert Southwest nature. So today, more often than not, it is referred to as a style.

Xeriscaping Principles And Methods

For the sake of the perceived meaning of xeriscaping, most of the pictures, ideas, and plans in this post represent a southwest desert landscaping style. However, for a technical understanding and the true benefits of xeriscaping, it’s first important to get an understanding of the true meaning and applications of xeric principles. See Xeriscaping Principles And Ideas. You will also find more good pointers and different ideas at Xeriscape Colorado and Xeriscape NM .

While the phrasing may be different from explanation to explanation, the basics of xeriscaping are all the same and very simple to use. Grouping plants, creating rich organic soil, terracing, and other low water use practices are simple common sense but aren’t considered into most landscape or garden design. With today’s awareness for the need of green earth friendly living, xeriscape principles should be a consideration in all new landscaping and garden designs.

Xeriscape Ideas And Pictures

Again, while xeriscaping can be applied to most any landscaping or garden design style, it is most often applied to Southwest, Desert, Santa Fe, and Arizona styles. See –

Xeriscaping Ideas And Pictures
A collection of Southwest desert Santa Fe landscape design photos, ideas, and plans.

xeriscaping ideas
A collection of some of my own design ideas and plans.

Xeriscaping Plans
A collection of some the best xeric, desert, Southwest, and low water use design plans and ideas from other designers and sources on the web.

Southwest Landscaping Ideas

See Desert Southwest Landscaping ideas for a collection of other designers and plans applied to xeriscaping landscapes and gardens.

Planning and building beautiful and functional patios, like most areas of landscaping and garden design, does not have to be expensive. Of course, the source and type of materials you use for your patio will determine the biggest part of the cost. And of course, the term “budget” generally assumes that you will do the labor yourself so that is not an issue here.

Before you can get any ideas of cost of creating your patio, you’ll need ideas, plans, and a direction to go in. And if you’re familiar with this site, you know I’ve provided you with lots of pictures to look at for ideas. Oh ya. So spend a little time at the gallery of Patio design and decorating ideas to get an idea of all your options and possibilities.

For now, don’t get too hung up on the furnishings and decor but pay more attention to the design styles and elements used. While they don’t have to be, the furnishings may be the most costly of all the elements you add so it’s best to see where you’re at with expenses before you plan any of that in. And remember, “budget” means that you’ll be doing the labor yourself so there won’t be much expense there. Or at most, a barbeque and a few beers for your friends…at the end of the day.

While style, shape, and design ideas can be gathered through the pictures in the directories, knowing a few principles in the area of small gardens will go a long way. Because generally, most patios will tend to be smaller and in line with courtyards and small gardens.

Assuming an area for the patio has been chosen, I would normally start from the ground up. So deciding on flooring materials is the first step. Your choices range from inexpensive gravel or crusher fines to pavers and flagstone to decorative concrete ideas. Get an idea of the sources, availability, and cost of your flooring choice and see if it fits into your budget plan.

Generally, pavers and natural flagstone make up the majority of flooring materials used with natural flagstone being the least expensive and easiest to install. Often, these materials can be found as discarded from refurbished projects. And depending on where you live, the flagstone may be gathered in the field with a permit from your county or state. And old used pavers are one of my favorite materials for patio floors as the worn look makes them look so established and rustic.

If plants are an inclusion into your patio plans, there are a lot of ways to save money in choosing landscaping and garden plants. Starting with smaller plants and even using native plants will help stay within the budget.

Now, beyond everything we’ve discussed here, there is the consideration of various placements of garden decor, wall hangings, colors, and furnishings. And with a little creativity, many of these can be free. See garden decor for some cheap and free decor ideas for gardens, landscaping, patios, and courtyards.

If you’ve planned ahead and taken your time in finding the right materials to this point, you may just have enough left in your budget to finish your patio or small garden courtyard just the way you envision it.

Article By Woods Houghton

Extreme changes in weather are hard on plants and trees. In Eddy county we more often than not see a period of time in the mid 70’s then three days later the temperature will not get over 40 F, followed by a time back in the high 60’s. This is very hard on trees and other plants. It can reveal itself as frost cracking, bark splitting, or bark discoloration know as scalding. I often see this in trees that are exposed to brick walls, pavement or reflection from white rocks. Often it is the wrong plant in the wrong place. It is made worse by trees which do not receive adequate water late in the season before winter hits.

What happens is warm winter sunlight warms up the southern or southwestern side of young or smooth or dark barked trees or a wall or pavement reflect sunlight or warmth to the tree. When the temperatures drop the bark than cool down to ambient temperatures or may even get cooler then ambient air because of the cooling effect that occurs with temperature loss.

Another factor is winter sunlight can actually dehydrate the bark usually on the southern exposure. The symptoms may not occur immediately but may occur up to three years later. The symptoms are splits or crack, sunken dead areas or bark pealing. To prevent this keep the soil around the trees moist this helps cool the trees, use mulch around trees that is natural in color. Paint susceptible trees with white water based paint diluted to the consistency of whole milk for about 3.5 feet down.

Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.