5 Fun Facts About Landscaping in Arizona

Dec 31

Landscaping changes depending on where you live. Even in the United States, no two states have the exact same climate. In fact, many states have multiple different climates depending on their size, including Arizona. This means that landscaping in Arizona is especially different from landscaping anywhere else in the country.

If you’ve ever been curious about what makes landscaping in our state special, or you’re looking to landscape here for the first time, we have some interesting facts for you. These will help you better understand the landscape on your property and how to best care for it.

Fun Facts About Landscaping in Arizona

#1. Arizona Has Variety in Topography

Arizona is one of the most unique states for landscaping, with its wide variety of climates, but it also has a wide variety of topography. Topography is the study of the Earth’s land surface, and the land surface of Arizona is incredibly diverse. Between the desert lowlands and green mountainlands, there’s a lot to see and experience.

Each of them offers a different range of temperature and humidity. This diversity of landscapes requires people to take special consideration when designing and planning outdoor spaces. Just because they know one spot doesn’t mean they know them all.

#2. It’s Not All Hot

The climate in Arizona isn’t blisteringly hot across the state. It ranges from hot and dry in the desert regions to cool and humid in the mountain areas. The topography and the temperature go hand-in-hand.

While you may think that the higher the land, the hotter the temperature, the higher elevations offer a lot more shade and protection from the heat. The lowerlands are typically flatter and offer little protection against the sun’s rays for large swaths of land.

This means that landscaping in Arizona must be tailored to fit each region’s climate. In the desert regions, the thing you have to worry about most is water. It’s hard to maintain water, and plant growth is impossible without water. Plants must be able to survive long periods without rain or irrigation. Meanwhile, in higher elevations where rainfall is more abundant, non-native plants can thrive with regular watering and need to be flood resistant.

#3. It’s All Pretty Extreme Though

Another factor to consider when landscaping in Arizona is that while it’s not all hot, it is all extreme. There is no such thing as a mild day for most parts of Arizona, at least to those of us living here. Summer temperatures can reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter temperatures can dip down into the 40s and 50s at night.

For this reason, you can’t just plant anything that’s heat-resistant. Heat-resistant plants are rarely cold-resistant as well. This means you have to plant flowers, vegetables, and fruits at specific times of the year to take advantage of the temperatures, or make sure to use plants that can survive year-round.

#4. No Natural Soil is the Same

Considering all the different environments found in Arizona, it should be no surprise to hear that there are many different soil types as well.

Some places in Arizona have clay-like soils with low levels of nutrients, while others may have sandy soils with good drainage but less available nutrients.

This means you have to research what type of soil you live on and if you want to use it for your landscaping project. If the plants you want to grow aren’t compatible with it, you can get special soil, topsoil, and mulch from your local Pioneer Landscape Center.

#5. Plant Variety is Abundant

Before this article, you might have thought that Arizona was not the home of many different plants unless you’re well-traveled around the state. If you are, or you’ve been reading carefully, you’ve probably figured out that Arizona has a wide range of plants that are natural and common to our state, based on our varied environments.

When landscaping in Arizona, you can try your hand at plants you’ve ordered from outside Arizona, but if you want to make things easier, you can use local plants. If you do the latter, you have a litany of different choices to choose from. This includes:

Saguaro cacti
Agave
Mesquite trees
Creosote bushes
Ocotillo
Palo verde trees
And more.

Make the Most of Landscaping in Arizona With Help From Pioneer Landscape Centers

Arizona is not the easiest place to maintain a landscape in, depending on which part of the state you live in but it’s a special experience. It’s unlike anywhere else, and if you want to have a bit of that special experience for yourself, the experts at your local Pioneer Landscape Centers can help you get everything you need. Don’t wait. Contact us today.

Carli Holas