Transforming a Desert Landscape Into a Lush Oasis

Your pool is not the only thing that guests will notice about your backyard. Your landscape design is a huge factor is how your backyard looks. When it comes to landscaping, you have many options. What you choose will likely depend on how your pool and home are designed. For traditional pools and classic desert homes, a natural desert landscape is a great option. However, if you want a yard that looks less like the desert and more like a vacation destination, then you may be interested in a lush oasis design.

There are many steps in transforming a desert landscape into a tropic oasis.

Native Plants vs. Tropical Plants

Most desert landscape designs make use of desert plants that grow easily in Arizona. If you prefer a more tropical feel to your backyard, you will need to branch out from the standard native plants of the Sonoran desert. Although it can be difficult to create the proper conditions for these gorgeous non-native plants, it can be well worth it to have a backyard unlike anyone else’s.

Here are a few ideas for unique plants you can grow in Arizona:

Palm trees. Palm trees are actually relatively easy to grow in Arizona, but you can plant them strategically to make it feel like you are on an island in your own yard.
Orchids. Orchids have beautiful multi-colored flowers, and you do not often see them growing in Tucson backyards. However, with the proper maintenance, growing an orchid tree is definitely possible.
Plumerias. These flowers are typical of Hawaii and have a very sweet smell. These flowers will not do well in direct sun, but if you place them under partial shade they can grow by your Arizona pool.
Tropical Birds of Paradise. This is another flower that many people associate with Hawaiian resorts. Although it may seem daunting, these plants are actually very tolerant of Arizona’s heat.

Designing Around Your Custom Pool

When you create a landscape design, you should consider how it interacts with your custom pool. Creating a strip of lush tropical plants around your pool’s border is a great way to help it stand out from the desert landscape around it. However, you may not want such a large contrast between your pool and the rest of your yard. As with any other design decisions, your best bet is to find a balance that works for you.

You may not be comfortable maintaining an entire backyard of non-native plants, but may find that contrasting sections of desert gardens and tropical flowers will work best for you. You may also decide that you want to highlight your pool and only put lush landscaping directly around the border. Whatever you desire, Pools by Design can help you create it.

Maintaining Your Landscape Design

Aside from aesthetic choices, you want to make sure that you feel comfortable with the long-term maintenance of your landscaping. While flowers and tropical trees look beautiful, you will likely have to perform more maintenance on your pool when leaves fall into it. You also need to make sure to maintain the soil around your unique landscape design so that the plants grow properly.

Transform your desert landscape into a lush oasis with Pools by Design.

As you make these decisions, Pools by Design will help you decide what works best for your home and your backyard.