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

Rustic Xeriscape Garden Ideas and Designs

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Stonehouse Meadow - Early Summer
Stonehouse Meadow - Early Summer
Lavish GardensLavish Gardens
A path through the Stonehouse Meadow, with Monarda in full bloom. Ecological landscaping
This is an example of an expansive rustic front xeriscape full sun garden for summer in Toronto with a flowerbed and a stone fence.
Sandstone Fire Pit
Sandstone Fire Pit
Moss Boss StudiosMoss Boss Studios
Inspiration for a large rustic back xeriscape garden in Central Coast.
Jordan Park Garden, San Francisco
Jordan Park Garden, San Francisco
UserUser
A stacked stone wall borders a raised planter full of creeping charlie and purple morning glory.
Photo of a medium sized rustic back xeriscape partial sun garden in San Francisco with a retaining wall.
Lawn Replacements with property views
Lawn Replacements with property views
Céladon Designs, Inc.Céladon Designs, Inc.
This is an example of a large rustic back xeriscape full sun garden for spring in Santa Barbara with a garden path and gravel.
Steps and Gold Lace Junipers
Steps and Gold Lace Junipers
Zone4 Landscapes Ltd.Zone4 Landscapes Ltd.
The stones steps are local stone placed in such a way to make the climb and descent comfortable to traverse. Often natural stone steps have varying sized risers and treads that make their use difficult. We strive to make it not only beautiful but functional.
Lakeside Garden - Custom Landscaping - Highland Village, TX
Lakeside Garden - Custom Landscaping - Highland Village, TX
One Specialty Landscape Design, Pools & HardscapeOne Specialty Landscape Design, Pools & Hardscape
This English-inspired garden in Highland Village, TX offers stunning lakeside views using native Texas plants.
This is an example of a rustic xeriscape garden in Dallas.
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.
Sense of Place
Sense of Place
Michael D McIver | Landscape DesignMichael D McIver | Landscape Design
Design ideas for a medium sized rustic front xeriscape partial sun garden for summer in Portland with gravel.
Edible Gardens
Edible Gardens
Botanica Landscape Inc.Botanica Landscape Inc.
Raised beds made of redwood, lined with pond liner, create a beautiful front garden
This is an example of a medium sized rustic front xeriscape full sun garden in Los Angeles with a raised bed.
Heat-Loving Garden
Heat-Loving Garden
FormLA LandscapingFormLA Landscaping
California native chaparral foliage fills the petite front garden. The Western Redbud, ideal for small gardens, bring shade to the front porch and seasonal color to the garden.
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
Garden of Splendor
Garden of Splendor
flora Distinctive Landscapesflora Distinctive Landscapes
Inspiration for an expansive rustic back xeriscape full sun garden in Denver with a fire feature, natural stone paving and a metal fence.
DIY Landscaping
DIY Landscaping
American StoneAmerican Stone
Parking strip art. Who said it needs to be straight grass?
This is an example of a medium sized rustic front xeriscape garden in Salt Lake City with gravel.
Colorful California Native Habitat
Colorful California Native Habitat
Edger Landscape DesignEdger Landscape Design
Alongside a backyard gazebo California natives such as Cleveland Sage, Redbud, Foothill Penstemon, and Canyon Dudleya announce spring.
Design ideas for a medium sized rustic back xeriscape garden for spring in San Francisco with natural stone paving.
Side Path on Steep Slope
Side Path on Steep Slope
Art of the LandArt of the Land
Difficult to transverse, this side yard needed a passage way that required little care.
Design ideas for a large rustic side xeriscape fully shaded garden for spring in Denver with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Rustic Landscape
Rustic Landscape
Inspiration for a rustic front xeriscape full sun garden for summer in Other.
Drought Tolerant Landscaping
Drought Tolerant Landscaping
Legacy LandscapeLegacy Landscape
Low water use planting using Arbutus unedo 'Oktoberfest' (right back), Sedum 'Autumn Joy' (right front), Pennisetum setaceum (middle front), Pennisetum Oriental (left front) and Teucrium chamaedrys 'Prostratum' (left front).
Natural stone wall and steps
Natural stone wall and steps
Garden ArchitectureGarden Architecture
dry stacked Bouquet Canyon stone walls and steps with decomposed granite paving
Rustic back xeriscape full sun garden in San Francisco with a retaining wall and decomposed granite.
Oregon Grape on the Hillside
Oregon Grape on the Hillside
Ecoscape Environmental DesignEcoscape Environmental Design
Ecoscape's botanist, Sue Rigdon, finalized the plant list for this project making sure the material would be fire resistant, critter-proof (against rabbits, ground squirrels, deer, and elk), and water wise. This species of Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) is hardy to -30 degrees and 6500ft elevation. This shrub also provides good wild bee forage!
Catalina Cherry Hedge
Catalina Cherry Hedge
FormLA LandscapingFormLA Landscaping
Hedges containing Catalina Cherry have blooms in the spring. In fall, deep red edible cherries will fill their branches.
Design ideas for a large rustic side xeriscape partial sun garden for autumn in Los Angeles with a garden path and natural stone paving.

Rustic Xeriscape Garden Ideas and Designs

A beautifully designed rustic 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 rustic 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 rustic front garden design.

How should I design my rustic 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 rustic 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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