Question: I’ve got a landscaping DIY question about my dirt yard. I need a desert do-over!
I was watching Yard Crashers. I Googled Matt Blashaw which led me to you. I’ve always been into DIY projects, but never too good. I live in Blythe, CA—the desert about half way between L.A. and Phoenix. Our lot is long & narrow and fine dirt and sand blows around. A lot. And it’s hot here. Oh, and did I mention monsoons? And we don’t have any plants. So what can I do to have a nice yard? I’m frustrated and overwhelmed with daily dirt! I am dreaming of one day opening up these curtains & enjoying my view. Help with my desert dirt yard! —Sheri H.
Answer: Sheri! I’m sunburned just thinking about this. Wow. I think we can help you make a little oasis with some landscaping DIY design tips.
Even with a shotgun lot (long and thin), creating niches and texture and vertical space might be your best bet. A pergola with a wood ‘floor’ (joists and deck boards), wood or fabric shade cover and clever corner details like benches or planters will create fantastic texture and surface area while instantly improving the look of your brown-scape. And, putting a layer between you and the dust swirl.
I’d also look into native plants for converting the dirt into a cultivated space with ground cover that has a crack at surviving. The best resource to find out what works best might be your town hall. Many communities make a big effort to plant native species and have researched what grows best. Adding raised garden beds with wood or stone sides would look great and help hold the soil while creating contour. Earthen berms and some stone ‘mulch’ are another approach to add ground cover and color. Run a meandering walkway through it all from front to back. It will definitely add depth and richness you’ll love.
If trees are on the list of things you can grow, I’d use them in two ways: Anchor plantings and shade.
Plant trees strategically on your property to create anchors of visual interest and natural wind breaks. Shade-wise, anything you can do to keep the sun from beating directly on your house will help it be a bit more comfortable inside.
Fences—and fence vignettes—-are awesome features. One thing I love about them is that they’re plant-able at the base and with delightful vertical gardens. Cacti of all kinds can add lavish, desert-friendly color. Whenever possible, water with a drip system (like a soaker hose) rather than sprinklers.
And because you have monsoons, rain barrels might be a great way to catch and hold water you can use later (with a solar pump) to irrigate the landscape.
Finally, expectations. Surely, if you pour enough water and resources on it, you could have a golf course. But the desert will always be right there. So if there’s an overriding principle for your Landscaping DIY it’s this: Find ways to live with your environment rather than conquer it. Use plants that like to live there naturally and make them your new neighbors.
