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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Garden
  3. Type: Drought-tolerant

Xeriscape Garden Ideas and Designs

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Meditation Garden
Meditation Garden
Ross Land StudioRoss Land Studio
An unused area of lawn has been repurposed as a meditation garden. The meandering path of limestone step stones weaves through a birch grove. The matrix planting of carex grasses is interspersed with flowering natives throughout the season. Fall is spectacular with the blooming of aromatic asters.
Coan Waterfront Landscape, Camano Island, WA
Coan Waterfront Landscape, Camano Island, WA
Lankford Associates Landscape ArchitectsLankford Associates Landscape Architects
From the street, a round rock pathway leads to a small seating area next to the water with a small fire pit. Low maintenance, drought resistant and salt tolerant plantings were used in mass and clumps. This garden has become the focus of the neighborhood with many visitors stopping and enjoying what has become a neighborhood landmark. Located on the shores of Puget Sound in Washington State. Photo by R. Scott Lankford
Fire and Water
Fire and Water
Eco Landscape Design & BuildEco Landscape Design & Build
Innis Casey Photography
Inspiration for a medium sized modern back xeriscape garden in Los Angeles with gravel.
Front + Backyard Design (Colorado)
Front + Backyard Design (Colorado)
Tilly | Landscape DesignTilly | Landscape Design
This customer was looking to add privacy, use less water, include raised bed garden and fire pit...making it all more their style which was a blend between modern and farmhouse.
Landscape, Environmental Concepts
Landscape, Environmental Concepts
Environmental ConceptsEnvironmental Concepts
Design ideas for a medium sized classic back xeriscape partial sun garden for spring in Las Vegas with a raised bed and brick paving.
desierto curvazon
desierto curvazon
Bianchi DesignBianchi Design
This is an example of a medium sized front xeriscape garden in Phoenix with gravel.
Details
Details
Grounded - Richard Risner RLA, ASLAGrounded - Richard Risner RLA, ASLA
This is an example of a large modern back xeriscape partial sun garden in San Diego with a water feature and concrete paving.
Water-Wise Home Yard Landscaping Project in Temecula
Water-Wise Home Yard Landscaping Project in Temecula
Southwest Boulder & StoneSouthwest Boulder & Stone
Joe and Tod, homeowners in the Vintage Hills area of Temecula, undertook this yard transformation themselves. Their goal was to replace a lawned portion of the right side of their front yard with drought-tolerant plants and rock complementing the existing landscaping. The homeowners began the project by transplanting kangaroo paw, yucca, lantana and jade plants. Some of the plants made the journey from their former home in Long Beach and others came from thinning out existing plants in the yard. In addition to designing the space together, they also installed the project themselves. The small, light gray boulders and cobble were already located on the property, and closely resemble Sierra boulders. Gambler's Gold 3/4" crushed rock was used to create the "islands" around the plants, with 3/4" gray crushed rock to fill in the larger areas. Premium Sunburst pebbles in the 1"-3" size finished the area off as the border with the neighbor's property.
Arcadia Spanish Colonial | Private Courtyard
Arcadia Spanish Colonial | Private Courtyard
Greey PickettGreey Pickett
The landscape of this home honors the formality of Spanish Colonial / Santa Barbara Style early homes in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix. By re-grading the lot and allowing for terraced opportunities, we featured a variety of hardscape stone, brick, and decorative tiles that reinforce the eclectic Spanish Colonial feel. Cantera and La Negra volcanic stone, brick, natural field stone, and handcrafted Spanish decorative tiles are used to establish interest throughout the property. A front courtyard patio includes a hand painted tile fountain and sitting area near the outdoor fire place. This patio features formal Boxwood hedges, Hibiscus, and a rose garden set in pea gravel. The living room of the home opens to an outdoor living area which is raised three feet above the pool. This allowed for opportunity to feature handcrafted Spanish tiles and raised planters. The side courtyard, with stepping stones and Dichondra grass, surrounds a focal Crape Myrtle tree. One focal point of the back patio is a 24-foot hand-hammered wrought iron trellis, anchored with a stone wall water feature. We added a pizza oven and barbecue, bistro lights, and hanging flower baskets to complete the intimate outdoor dining space. Project Details: Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Higgins Architects Landscape Contractor: Premier Environments Photography: Scott Sandler
Sunol Landscape
Sunol Landscape
Huettl Landscape ArchitectureHuettl Landscape Architecture
Photo of a modern xeriscape garden in San Francisco with decorative stones.
Bighorn Palm Desert luxury modern home exterior landscape design
Bighorn Palm Desert luxury modern home exterior landscape design
Whipple Russell ArchitectsWhipple Russell Architects
Bighorn Palm Desert luxury modern home exterior landscape design. Photo by William MacCollum.
Photo of a large modern front xeriscape full sun garden in Los Angeles with a desert look and gravel.
River Rock Pathway
River Rock Pathway
Landscapes by TerraLandscapes by Terra
A mixture of hard edges with the river rock and soft accents with the greenery and mulch makes this landscape the best of both worlds.
Inspiration for a large traditional back xeriscape full sun garden in Columbus with lawn edging and decorative stones.
Dramatic Streetscape Planting
Dramatic Streetscape Planting
Eden Garden DesignEden Garden Design
Striking Texas native botanical design with local river rock top dressing. Photographer: Greg Thomas, http://optphotography.com/
Alpine Dry River/Synthetic Grass
Alpine Dry River/Synthetic Grass
Home Turf Synthetic GrassHome Turf Synthetic Grass
Beautiful dry river bed with synthetic turf.
This is an example of a medium sized classic front xeriscape partial sun garden in San Diego with decorative stones.
Oak Tree Setting With Hillside Views, Landscape Renovation, Northern California
Oak Tree Setting With Hillside Views, Landscape Renovation, Northern California
Dig Your Garden Landscape DesignDig Your Garden Landscape Design
APLD 2021 Silver Award Winning Landscape Design. An expansive back yard landscape with several mature oak trees and a stunning Golden Locust tree has been transformed into a welcoming outdoor retreat. The renovations include a wraparound deck, an expansive travertine natural stone patio, stairways and pathways along with concrete retaining walls and column accents with dramatic planters. The pathways meander throughout the landscape... some with travertine stepping stones and gravel and those below the majestic oaks left natural with fallen leaves. Raised vegetable beds and fruit trees occupy some of the sunniest areas of the landscape. A variety of low-water and low-maintenance plants for both sunny and shady areas include several succulents, grasses, CA natives and other site-appropriate Mediterranean plants complimented by a variety of boulders. Dramatic white pots provide architectural accents, filled with succulents and citrus trees. Design, Photos, Drawings © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design
Front Yard Landscape
Front Yard Landscape
Stephanie D PooleStephanie D Poole
The meandering flagstone pathway leads visitors from the sidewalk or driveway to the front door around a rain chain downspout.
Design ideas for a small beach style front xeriscape full sun garden in Santa Barbara with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Mission Canyon Hilltop Landscape and Pool
Mission Canyon Hilltop Landscape and Pool
Natural Concepts Landscaping ContractorsNatural Concepts Landscaping Contractors
We executed this Scott Menzel design that incorporates drought-tolerant plantings, fire resistant hardscaping and jaw-dropping views of mountains and oceans. In the tool kit: board-formed cast-in-place concrete retaining walls; gravel, mulch and custom concrete paver hardscaping; natural grass and other California native plantings; Ipe pool deck and surround; and gas fire pit backed by a suitable-for-framing-so-we-did view. Design | Scott Menzel Image | Kurt Jordan Photography
Chic Sustainable Entry Garden- Los Feliz
Chic Sustainable Entry Garden- Los Feliz
Ketti Kupper Conscious Life DesignKetti Kupper Conscious Life Design
Container garden as focal point. Photo by Ketti Kupper
Design ideas for a small contemporary front xeriscape full sun garden in Los Angeles with a potted garden.
Small Indoor/Outdoor Living Nature Scape
Small Indoor/Outdoor Living Nature Scape
Ketti Kupper Conscious Life DesignKetti Kupper Conscious Life Design
Boulder Fountain with Dry Creek, succulents, and low water grasses. Photo by Ketti Kupper
Design ideas for a small rustic back xeriscape partial sun garden in Los Angeles with a water feature and natural stone paving.
Modern Driveway and Front Yard Danville, CA
Modern Driveway and Front Yard Danville, CA
DPG Pavers and DesignDPG Pavers and Design
Paver driveway, drought tolerant planting, black mulch. Paver color and style selected to compliment paint and roof color.
Photo of a medium sized modern front xeriscape full sun garden in San Francisco with mulch.

Xeriscape Garden Ideas and Designs

A beautifully designed garden is as important as the emphasis we place on the designs of our interiors. After all, our grounds (however modest) frame our homes and contribute to first impressions not only of our houses, but also of the households within. Options for garden designs can be as elaborate or low maintenance as your lifestyle and preferences permit – consider both your aspirations for how it should look and how much time you can invest in garden maintenance. Consulting a gardener or landscape designer will ensure you have a garden that suits your lifestyle, the local climate and soil conditions. But don’t forget that with Houzz your first stop can be collecting images of garden ideas and designs you love in order to inspire your garden plans and potentially share them with a landscape gardening professional.

How do I come up with a front garden design?

The priority for a front garden is kerb appeal. Begin by considering the area immediately around and leading up to your front door. You may want to opt for front garden designs that blend well with the style of your home – for example, abundant foliage and flowerbeds will perfectly complement a period property, whereas man-made materials, geometric shapes and contrasting textures are great ideas for a contemporary garden design. Even if your front garden is a small space, keep it tidy – if you have more space, make the most of it with garden ideas and features such as a manicured lawn, gravel driveway, water feature or garden fencing. If you don’t have the time or commitment to devote to gardening, then neatly pruned hedges, statement paving, hanging baskets, garden benches and outdoor lighting are all decorative, low maintenance garden ideas for your front garden design.

How should I design my back garden?

Back gardens typically offer more space than front garden designs and serve a more recreational purpose, so it’s important to know how you want to spend time in your garden before you design it in order to build in the features that you will enjoy. If you love relaxing in the garden and dining al fresco, think about patios, decking, garden furniture and BBQs. For the more horticulturally-inclined, incorporate flower beds, greenhouses or vegetable garden designs. Your landscape gardening professional can help you install structures such as sheds, pergolas and gazebos that complement your garden design, and artfully-placed garden ideas such as lawn edging and lighting will add definition to your chosen design.

How do I create a low maintenance garden?

The great news is, gardens aren’t exclusively for the green-fingered. Whether you’re not horticulturally-inclined or simply don’t have the time for a bit of landscape gardening, you can still have a garden design that looks the way you want by making some smart design choices. While many of us favour low maintenance gardens like urban gardens, roof terraces and patio gardens, lovers of greenery don’t need to sacrifice grass for paving slabs. Whatever you want from your garden, there are a variety of gardening solutions that can be built in to make life easier. For example, labour intensive features such as vegetable patches, greenhouses and flower beds can be optimised with an automatic irrigation system. These can be offset with fuss-free garden ideas such as hard landscaping, including gravel, paving or decking, and hard-wearing evergreens that require minimal upkeep. You might even consider replacing your garden fencing with slow growing hedging, which can be maintained less regularly than wooden fence panels. If having a lawn is important, there are different types of grasses in varying degrees of durability and maintenance. You may choose to take a more relaxed approach to your lawn – “wild” garden designs can have great charm if the grasses and flowers are chosen carefully. If you prefer a manicured lawn, it’s a good idea to invest in a “mulching” lawn mower that will recycle clippings and remove the need for cleaning up. Finally, there isn’t a more low maintenance garden lawn than artificial grass which can look highly realistic and keep your garden looking green. Garden ornaments are a great way to add interest to your low maintenance garden design – go for smart garden ideas such as solar garden lights which are both decorative and functional. Find some of the most popular design ideas on Houzz.
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