the fears about landscapes designed for desert environments is that the design
will actually use more water than was anticipated. In the process of using more
water than anticipated and lack of attention to design considerations, the
energy consumption of the building or home might increase.
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| Minioasis concept taken from Sunset Magazine many years ago. Hope you guys don’t mind. |
Landscape
designs are extensions of the home and should provide usable areas that add to
our quality of life. Recently a homeowner asked how to know if a landscape
designer was a good one or not. A good designer will sit down and ask you what
your needs are as a family or a business. A good designer will incorporate as
many of these needs as possible into the design.. If the designer doesn’t ask
about your needs, get a different designer.
most the plants near the home and decrease plant density away from the home or
building. Common terms used to describe this are minioasis and hydrozoning
designs. This technique allows you to use high water use plants near the
foundation where shading of the windows and walls can occur. In Las Vegas,
where we have some gypsiferous soils in parts of the valley, this can present a
problem if these “foundation plants” are overwatered. The high sulfates
contained in some of our soils may damage concrete patios and foundations.
Check with a soil survey map or have the soil analyzed for high sulfates. The
only solution to this type of problem is to keep foundation plantings on drip
emitters and far enough from concrete so that the water/soil solution can’t
react with the concrete. Most cement companies use appropriate, resistant cement
in their batches.
south and west facing walls. Some research in the past few years has indicated
that shading the south and west facing walls, not the roofs, helps to reduce
energy consumption of buildings situated in desert landscapes. This can be
accomplished with trellised vines, shrubs or well-placed trees.
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| Using large trees in desert landscapes to shade is questionable due to water use |
Use
trees that are in scale with the building. Large trees use more water than
smaller trees. Even if a large tree is a so-called low water use tree, a
smaller tree that might not be as water efficient may save water in a mature
landscape. Water use rises dramatically with tree canopy volume. It makes no
sense at all to plant a 40 foot tree to shade a one story building in our
desert environment. Our main problem is to find good, small trees for small
residential landscapes. More attention needs to be paid by our nurseries to
developing some of our reliable large shrubs as small, specimen trees.
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| Ikebana floral designs use spaces creatively |
Use open
spaces creatively. You’ll never save water by covering the soil with a plant
canopy. The desert doesn’t do it and neither should we. Instead it is the
challenge of a good designer to find creative ways to use open space. In Las
Vegas of the past, if the designer had bare ground, they covered it with
turfgrass. That time is gone and most people now realize that 100 percent
turfgrass cover is irresponsible in our desert climate. Use turfgrass as a
functional landscape planting, not a groundcover. It may be used to surround
trees and shrubs that don’t do well under drip irrigation.
temptation might be to replace turfgrass with a green, desert groundcover like
myoporum. That would be a mistake. Recent research in Las Vegas has
demonstrated that myoporum uses over thirty percent more water than high
maintenance bermudagrass. Play it safe. Be creative. Open spaces don’t use
water.
hardscapes (boulders, covered patios, artwork, bridges, masonry, gazebos,
fences, archways, benches) as alternatives to unnecessary plants in the design.
Hardscapes don’t use water. Can a piece of hardscape be used to create shade
instead of a large tree? Can it act as a focal point? Save plants for important
items in a landscape and make them count. Plant use should be questioned if
they are acting as a landscape filler.
elevation changes in the design to create interest, create areas in the
landscape to collect water and protect sensitive plants. Elevation changes
provide niches for plants that might not survive normally.
landscaping or relandscaping, a conscious effort should be made to follow the
lead that deserts provide for us. Observe their characteristics and mimic them
in the landscape. The house or building is situated in a “minioasis” in the
desert landscape where it is protected from the harsh elements. Here it offers
a retreat providing recreation, safety and comfort for the desert dweller.
Add to the Quality of Life in a Desert?
can I channel available breezes into living areas
are my solar angles and where is the sun shining from during the summer
can I control prevailing winds that are a nuisance
there be glare into windows from my design
I do anything to reduce dust problems inside the home
do I need focal points and splashes of color
can I create interest with bare ground or “negative space”
kind of microclimates am I creating with my design
kind of spaces am I defining with my design and are they functional
I creating areas of recreation and areas for leisure activities
I creating shady spots for play areas, parking, patio, deck
I shading the windows
I considering attracting wildlife through the design
I avoiding allergy plants
I creating a safe design sensitive to the family’s needs and concerns
I addressing their privacy concerns
I stimulating all the human senses, not just sight