Ideas · Backyard
Desert backyard ideas, tried on your own yard.
Decomposed granite, sculptural plants and boulders. A desert-modern yard needs little water and little mowing, and still looks designed.
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The look
What makes a desert backyard
Desert-modern landscaping, also called xeriscape, groups a few strong plants like agave, yucca, cacti and grasses against a plain ground of gravel or decomposed granite. Boulders and concrete give it weight, and the empty space between plants is part of the design.
It suits hot, dry regions where watering a lawn is costly or restricted. Shade matters as much as planting: add a tree, a shade sail or a pergola so the yard is usable in summer.
Water-wise and sculptural. Colors: sand, rust, sage. Materials: decomposed granite, agave, boulders, concrete.
- Decomposed granite or gravel as the main ground cover
- Agave, yucca, cacti, desert grasses and native shrubs, spaced generously
- Boulders set partly into the ground, not perched on top
- Board-formed concrete walls, steps or planters
- Drip irrigation and shade from a tree, sail or pergola
Try it
Three ideas to try on your own photo
Each one opens the studio with the description filled in. Upload a photo of your backyard, change any words you like, and compare the result with your own space.
- Desert modern backyard with decomposed granite, agave, boulders, a board-formed concrete wall and a shade sail.See it on mine
- Replace the lawn with xeriscape: gravel, desert grasses, yucca and a winding stone path.See it on mine
- Desert backyard with a concrete fire pit, gravel seating area and drought-tolerant planting. Keep the trees.See it on mine
Before you build
Worth knowing first
- Keep spiny plants like agave well back from paths, play areas and pool edges.
- Water-wise does not mean no water at first: new plants need regular watering until they are established.
- Check whether your water utility offers lawn-replacement rebates before you remove turf.
Each design can come with an estimated cost range for your zip code, so you get a rough idea of the budget before asking for quotes. How the estimate works
How much changes
From a refresh to a rethink
- Refresh
- Planting, mulch, furniture and decor. Paving and structures stay.
- Remodel
- New surfaces, beds, lighting and features within the current layout.
- Reimagine
- A new layout for the yard. The house, fences and mature trees stay.
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See your own home, redesigned.
Upload one photo. Your first design is ready in about a minute.
2 free designs · No account · No credit card