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Beautiful Gardens in an Arid Climate?
Story by Jackye Meinecke, Las Cruces NM Photos by Charles Mann, Santa Fe NM
Xeriscaping is water-efficient landscaping - ideal for arid regions
When you move to New Mexico, you may want to sell your lawn mower. Lawns aren't the best choice for landscaping in a desert, and native landscapes require very little maintenance. Gardeners definitely will need to learn a new plant list. Though many plants you are familiar with may grow here, many will not.
However, this does not mean you must resign yourself to gardens of rocks and cacti. By using xeriscape principles, you can create a lovely oasis in the desert. While learning about landscaping with native plants, you can surround yourself with color and beauty that requires little water (a precious, expensive commodity in the desert) and little maintenance.
The beauty of most native plants is that they want to grow here: They have evolved to grow here. These plants thrive in our poor, alkaline soils on our limited natural moisture in our blazing desert sun. They do not require extensive soil amendments, expensive shade structures, or excessive additional water. Also, they invite fewer pests and diseases, so the gardener spends less time and money purchasing chemicals and controls, which is also better for the environment.
In a xeriscape garden design, the areas nearest the house become an oasis, relying on drip irrigation systems, which supply water for traditional and tropical plants to create a cool, colorful area that cools the home as well as the homeowner.
The garden areas furthest from the home are planted in native plants that require little to no additional water after they are established. The transition zone between the oasis and the arid zone features a combination of native plants and hardy adaptive plants. It is often more difficult to find native plants or even find good books to inform you about native plants. The garden stores in this area stock books by New Mexico writers who know our native plants. This area also has many garden clubs and a native plant society where newcomers are welcome to attend and learn more about gardening the arid land. Some gardening stores invite experts to speak and present slide shows on designing with native plants. As the demand for native plants has grown, more nurseries are stocking a wider variety of native plant material.
Jackye S. Meinecke is a freelance writer and owner of Enchanted Gardens LLC, which specializes in native and drought tolerant plants.
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