What makes a desert front yard look great
The front yards that stop people on a walk share a few traits. They frame the house instead of hiding it, they have a clear path to the front door, and they look intentional in every season. None of that requires grass. It requires a plan.
Frame the entry
Your front door should be the focal point. Use your boldest accent plants, a boulder grouping or a flowering shrub mass near the walkway so the eye travels to the entry. Keep tall plants away from windows and house numbers.
Layer heights from street to house
Low groundcovers along the curb and walkway, medium shrubs in the middle, and a shade tree or tall accents near the house create depth. A flat yard with everything the same height reads as unfinished.
Repeat, do not collect
One of each plant looks like a sampler. Groupings of three or five of the same shrub, repeated across the yard, look designed. Pick a handful of plants that work together and repeat them.
Contrast textures
Fine-textured shrubs like Texas sage or feathery cassia look best next to bold forms like agave, hesperaloe or a golden barrel cactus. That contrast is what gives desert landscapes their character.
Plan for your sun exposure
A front yard facing west or south takes the full force of afternoon sun plus heat reflected off the street, driveway and stucco. That is the place for the toughest plants: palo verde, Texas sage, red bird of paradise, desert spoon, agaves and most cacti. A north-facing front yard spends much of the day in the shadow of the house, especially in winter, and can support plants that would scorch elsewhere, such as Mexican honeysuckle or some aloes. A tree that shades a west-facing window also helps cool the house.
Space plants for their mature size
The most common front yard mistake in the Valley is planting shrubs too close together and then shearing them into tight balls to keep them in bounds. Sheared Texas sage and bougainvillea lose their flowers and natural shape. Give each plant room for its mature width, especially near walkways, driveways and sidewalks. The yard may look a little sparse for the first season, but it will fill in and stay easy to maintain.
Keep it safe and practical
- Keep spiny plants like agave and prickly pear back from sidewalks, walkways and where kids play. Choose spineless accents such as hesperaloe or soft-leaved aloes for edges.
- Keep plants near the driveway low enough that you can see traffic and pedestrians when backing out.
- Leave access to utility boxes, meters and cleanouts.
- Plant trees far enough from the house, walls and walks that roots and canopy have room to grow.
Rock and boulders that suit your house
Rock covers most of the ground in a xeriscape, so its color matters. Pick a tone that complements your stucco and roof rather than matching it exactly. Gold, tan, brown and reddish rock are all common in the Valley. A consistent depth over premium weed fabric keeps it looking clean. Boulders work best in groups of odd numbers, set partly into the ground. A dry riverbed of riprap can carry monsoon runoff from downspouts and gives the yard a natural line to follow. If you live in an HOA, rock color is often specified, so read our guide to HOA front yard landscaping.
Front yard plants that perform in Phoenix
- Trees: palo verde, desert willow, sweet acacia and Texas ebony. Browse palo verdes and classic Arizona shade trees.
- Flowering shrubs: Texas sage, red bird of paradise, ruellia, cassia and yellow bells. See flowering shrubs and color plants.
- Accents: agaves, aloes, golden barrel cactus and hesperaloe. See cacti, agaves and succulents.
- Groundcovers: trailing lantana, verbena and dalea. See groundcovers.
When to plant
Fall is the best time to plant a new front yard in the Phoenix area, with spring a close second. Roots establish through the mild months before facing their first summer. If you are converting an existing lawn, see grass to desert conversion for the steps involved.
Our front yard process
Xeriscape design and installation are back on our schedule now. We start with a consultation and a walk of your property, then create an MCAD design that shows plant placement, rock, boulders and any dry riverbeds or mounds. Once you approve it, our crew installs everything and we give guidance on optimizing your irrigation for the new plantings. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee applies: If you're not absolutely satisfied with our service, simply let us know, and we will work tirelessly to make it right.
Just need plants? Order online and add planting at checkout. Our delivery team drops off your plants, and you do not need to be home. The planting crew comes the next day to put them in the ground.
Start your front yard
Shop desert plants at threetimbersshop.com with free Valley-wide delivery on orders over $150. For a full front yard design and installation, call (612) 214-1955 to request a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a desert front yard really have curb appeal?
Yes. A clear path to the door, layered plant heights, repeated plant groupings and rock that complements your house all add curb appeal without any grass.
How far apart should front yard shrubs be planted?
Space them for their mature width rather than their size in the container. Crowded shrubs end up sheared into balls, which reduces flowering and adds maintenance.
What plants are best for a hot west-facing front yard?
Palo verde, Texas sage, red bird of paradise, desert spoon, agaves and most cacti handle reflected afternoon heat well. Save more tender plants for shaded or north-facing areas.
What color rock should I use in my front yard?
Choose a tone that complements your stucco and roof. If you are in an HOA, check its guidelines first, since many specify approved rock colors and sizes.
Do I need to be home when my plants are delivered?
No. The delivery team can drop plants off without you there. If you live in a gated community, send the gate code before delivery day.
Recent Valley xeriscapes
