Southwest front yard landscaping

Southwest front yard landscaping ideas.  The look of your lawn and garden may be the first and possibly the most lasting impression people have of your home and property you can red-design or spruce it up without having to fork out the big bucks.

Front yard landscaping ideas

Landscaping plays an essential role in enhancing its beauty and increasing home value. Many homeowners can turn their own landscape area into a beautiful area and become the envy of your friends and neighbors.  The cost is low compared to a redesign or a complete landscape makeover.  Landscapers are pricey and sometimes they are worth it.  But for this article, we will try to DIY (Do It Yourself).

Many landscaping companies have begun to introduce more varieties of landscaping rock and mulch. Decorative rock comes in many sizes and colors.

Decorative landscaping with rocks

Landscaping stones and mulches are not only an excellent way to beautify and accent garden beds, ponds, driveways, and walkways, they also provide natural benefits to the soil and plants. These benefits include controlling and reducing erosion, retaining moisture, controlling weeds, and insulating soil.

Types of rocks for landscape

There are many types of rocks or gravel to choose from.  There’s arroyo river rock, decorative colored rock, small to pea-sized stone, and large boulders.  Below are a few examples you could use.

Where can someone find landscape rock?  Easy, search for “landscape rock materials” in your area or city.  Most rock businesses will have an ample supply onsite.  Some have samples in the front office, so it is easy to see the sizes and the color of the rocks and or boulders.

The best thing about rocks for desert landscaping is that desert plants love the reflected heat from the rocks.  They thrive in rock design.

More information on rocks for landscaping – Landscaping Stone Ideas.

Choosing a Mulch

Mulch is a top dressing it enhances the look of your plants and helps keep moisture in especially during the hot summer months.  Choose a mulch that is long-lasting and not easily washed away.  There are two types of mulches organic and non-organic.  It is always best to use organic mulch on vegetables, fruit trees, or any type of edible plant.

Organic mulch is shredded bark and is made from Redwood, Cypress, and Cedar trees.  It will help keep moisture in the soil plus it also adds an attractive look to your area.  You can also make your own mulch from grass clippings, tree cuttings, tree bark, pine needles, and pine cones.  Shredded-up old newspapers also make a good mulch.  The only drawback to making your mulch is the look.  Store-bought mulch will always look better.

It is best to pick mulch that has a loose structure to let water pass through quickly but can decompose over time.  Yes, mulch will add a nice touch to areas that have been neglected.

When do you mulch?

Good organic mulch should be applied in early to late spring.  It is also beneficial to use mulch at initial planting, anything from trees to shrubs.  This helps reduce soil temperature which will in turn help save water.  It also helps with weed and insect control.

Apply fine mulches one to two inches deep. Coarse or fluffy mulches should be put on three to four inches deep.  Always apply mulch evenly and level it with a rake or your bare hands.  Make sure to water thoroughly after adding your mulch.  The mulch should be a few inches away from plant stems and tree trunks.

What about insects?

Termites will not live long inside a bag of mulch.  However, if you make your own mulch or get it from an outside source other than a reputable retail gardening store then there could be termites or insects.  If you want to keep insects away use Cypress mulch as the odor from the Cypress will keep most insects away.

Additionally, you can also spray with horticulture oil to help keep insect eggs from hatching.  This should be done in late winter but can also be beneficial if spraying is done throughout the growing seasons.

Insects are a big gardening problem throughout the U.S. Learn how to keep Insects and diseases on plants here.

Inorganic Mulch

You can also use inorganic mulches like rubber that will work better than organic ones.  This type of mulch will also last much longer.  There are certain situations when you need non or Inorganic mulch. This type of mulch is used basically to keep weeds out in pastures or playgrounds as it contains matter that does not decompose over time. Learn more about rubber mulch.

What about Weeds?

To further control weeds and keep plants healthy, there’s a new mulch called Vigoro Mulch with Weed Stop. It’s the first to contain pre-emergent herbicide, controlling unwanted weeds for up to four months yet allowing bulbs, established flowers, shrubs, and trees to thrive. This mulch is certified by the Mulch and Soil Council as only containing natural forest products.

Mulching and the placement of rocks are relatively easy to do.  Maintenance landscapers are typically less expensive and you could always ask for help from friends and relatives.

Southwest front yard landscaping ideas