Small backyard desert landscaping ideas aren’t as limited as your space. There are many ways you can turn your small space into a neat, beautiful desert garden. Check out some of the following ideas which can inspire you in making creative and fresh landscape design plans.

6 Small Backyard Desert Landscaping Ideas for Stunning Look

  1. Green Cacti and Succulents
    A cactus is a succulent, but a succulent isn’t always in the form of a cactus. However, with their ability to store water, they’re classified as drought-tolerant plants. So if you look for plants to decorate your desert garden, make sure cacti and other succulents are preferred.
    If you choose to plant cacti and other succulents in soil, use a well-draining mix. Combining organic and inorganic materials is also a great idea because you can make an ideal soil for the cacti. But if you choose to plant them in gravel, note that your plants would survive better in small gravel.

  2. A Dry Creek Bed
    In a small backyard, you can still create a desert garden by building a dry creek or stream bed. You can make everything functional and beautiful at the same time, including how the dry creek bed works. This desert landscaping idea will be the drainage solution by soaking up water and preventing runoff.

  3. Agave and Aloe Vera
    For the limited space in your backyard, planting both agave and aloe vera isn’t a bad idea. Both plants are alike, but agave is known to be larger and spinier than aloe vera. Agave’s chunky leaves will add a dramatic statement in your desert garden look.
    Simple small backyard desert landscaping ideas like having agave and aloe vera as similar-shaped desert plants will also benefit you. Not only do they play a role in adding aesthetics, both can be used later as medicinal plants. Agave is known as an effective antiseptic and aloe vera has antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

  4. Artificial Turf
    Opt for artificial turf installation instead of creating a grass lawn in your small backyard. For a simple and low-maintenance desert landscape design, artificial turf doesn’t require water to conserve. This green lawn is popular even if the installation costs higher, but you can use them till 20 years later.

  5. Gravel and Stone
    Make gravel and stone dominant in your small backyard when you’re looking for a good desert landscaping idea. You can still have one or two types of desert plants that are drought-tolerant, but add more gravel and stones. There are various shapes, sizes and colors of stones that you can put with gravel in your garden.

  6. Full of Wildflowers
    Owning a small backyard doesn’t mean you cannot plant different types of wildflowers there. For example, you may fill the compact place with a combination of California Bluebells and California Poppies. But for other easy options, you can grow desert marigold, cornflower, gaillardia, calendula, and even scarlet flax.

Small backyard desert landscaping ideas are various, from how you use succulents to plant wildflowers. You also have an option to fill your desert garden with gravel and stones or even artificial turf. Prefer ideas that you can handle well with no hassle, especially if you’re a busy homeowner.