DESERT OASIS DESIRED - Backyard Landscape

by ELIZABETH
(SO. CAIFORNIA)

WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE OUR BACKYARD LOW MAINTENANCE AND WE WERE PLANNING ON USING CACTUS AND DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANTS.ANY IDEAS FOR THIS HUGE L-SHAPED BACK YARD ABOUT 60X60 FEET?

ANSWER
Without getting into the details of specific plants, I would consider doing the following for your backyard landscape.

1. Use tall plants against the wall to hide it and make it more of a green space. There are vertical gardens you can create....similar to green roofs, but vertical.

2. When adding plants against the rear of the house, I would use trees in the corners to frame it and add some height.

3. How about one or more shade trees in the lawn?

4. In an area that is a visual focal point from either where you sit outside or a view from a window, add a water feature. It can be as simple as a bird bath with running water.

I hope this has given you some useful ideas.

Susan