Southwest Landscaping
Southwest landscaping styles are a good example of how climate and terrain influence the designs in various areas.
Southwest Landscaping
Of course, you are allowed to design any type of landscaping theme that you want if you are the owner of the property. So, if you want to give your Arizona home a sky chalet look or want a desert look to your New England backyard, you are free to go for it. There are some practical reasons why it makes more sense to stick to a more area appropriate design. It is really not so much the taste of the residents of the area. Southwest landscaping developed as a response to the climate and natural look of the great Southwest.
Factors such as climate and rainfall have a great impact on landscaping choices. Southwest Landscaping is very much concerned with water in one way or another. The climate of the Southwest and the uncertainty of rainfall amounts make smaller lawns and the use of sun loving and non-thirsty plants. Rocks and flagstones are very important in most Southwest landscaping designs.
There is a word that is often associated with Southwest Landscaping. The word is Xeriscaping. The word is taken from the Greek word, xeros, which means dry. Some people mistake this style to resemble the desert and they expect a lot of sand, cactus, and rock. This is not what Xeriscaping is all about. The style simply uses an increased awareness of the water needs of the various plants and in the overall landscaping design.
Many of the water friendly plants used in Southwest landscaping are evergreens and many of the plants feature bright colorful flowers. Grass is not out of the question either, but most designs attempt to hold grass to a minimum. This is where such things as broad flagstone walkways or sand and rock gardens can occupy space usually devoted to large green lawns.
Interior decoration has distinct styles that are related to the location of the home. Such motifs as Seashore and Ranch style have evolved as a result of the culture of certain areas. The difference is that it is possible to move around interior styles at random. Landscaping styles need to conform to the climate and rainfall conditions of the area. Southwest landscaping has developed its dry look in response to the harsh climate of the area, but the people of the area have used such techniques as xeriscaping to make the style their own.