Staging Your Desert Yard

Staging your yard to sell your home is usually somewhat of a production, even when you live in an area that gets moderate amounts of rain yearly. However, dressing up a yard in an area where it rarely ever rains and water is a hot commodity is something else altogether.

Many people who live in damper climates are encultured to believe that the perfect yard has a rich green lawn that's so big you need a riding mower to cut it; but anyone who's ever lived in the desert knows that grass can be a lot more hassle and cost than it is worth. However, a lack of turf doesn't mean that you have to have a boring yard.

Trees that are adapted to living in a hot dry climate are a great addition to desert landscaping. Deciduous trees, like mesquite, can offer shade to your yard and house in the summer months and let the light through in the winter when they've dropped their leaves. Many native trees attract birds to live in and under them, like quail. Some types of fruit trees thrive in a hot climate which gives you the added benefit of fresh fruit as well as shade.

There are also many shrubs and bushes that thrive in a desert environment; many of these are evergreens, like oleander and bougainvillea. These bushes are drought-resistant and have beautiful colourful blooms.

Some of the more obvious choices for a yard in the desert are succulents and cacti. Since these types of plants propagate themselves in an arid growing environment, they are idea for a yard as well. Check out your local plants shops to see what kinds of succulents and cacti are available to buy in your area. Some native plants may also be available from cactus rescue societies who take cacti from development sites which would otherwise be destroyed.

Other water-free options include stone work, patios, and other built in features. There are a lot of things that you can do with interesting stones, for example you can build pathways with flag stones, incorporate stone or wood benches around your patio, or build up some areas for rock gardens full of native plants. Built in grills or barbeques are also very popular additions in an outdoor living space; make sure that you plan for adequate shade.

If you are creative in your use of drought-resistant plants and landscaping you can save yourself a lot of money, work, and water. A low-maintenance yard has a lot of appeal not only to native animal species but also to home buyers.

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