In the U.S., tens of millions of acres are covered by turfgrass. Lawns are a practical and enjoyable feature of the landscaping in areas that receive steady rainfall, but in the southwest, grass alternatives are far more practical. Plus, you won’t need to mow them every week. Check with a landscaping company to find out about native plants that withstand drought conditions well and offer aesthetic appeal for your outdoor spaces.

Green Carpet

This plant, known by its scientific name, Carissa macrocarpa, features dark green leaves that contrast wonderfully against a desert landscape. It’s a low-growing shrub that can also be used as a ground cover. As its white blooms die, you can remove them to encourage new blooms to grow. And if you plant it in a raised planter, the long branches will grow to drape over the sides in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Damianita Daisy

The Damianita daisy, or Chysactiana mexicana, is true to its name. It sports bright, yellow, daisy-like blooms in the spring and fall. This is a sun-loving, low-lying shrub that is much beloved by commercial landscapers because of its durability. It’s very tolerant of extreme heat. Although the Damianita daisy is low-maintenance, it does benefit from a light shearing in the late spring.

Myoporum Parvifolium

Myoporum is a native of Australia, which means it performs well in Arizona landscapes. It’s an ideal ground cover plant that grows at a moderate pace and works well in all sorts of landscape designs. This plant is an evergreen, with dense clusters of green leaves. Expect tiny white flowers to bloom during the summer. As the flowers die, they are replaced by purple fruits that create a pleasant visual contrast.

Ready to upgrade your landscape? Santa Rita Landscaping is a full-service landscape design, installation, and maintenance company serving Tucson and the surrounding areas. Give us a call at (520) 623-0421 to discuss your options for your residential or commercial property.

The lovely Powerscourt Gardens are part of Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow, Ireland. The estate itself has been voted in the Top 10 Houses in the World by Lonely Planet, and the gardens have been voted the third best Garden in the World by National Geographic. One visit to this popular destination and you’ll understand why garden enthusiasts fall in love with Powerscourt.

Touring the Italian Garden

The Italian Garden is one of the main gardens in Powerscourt. It looks out on a splendid view of Sugar Loaf Mountain. The Italian Garden is an exquisite collection of stone terraces that connect Triton Lake to the house. These terraces were designed in the 1840s by architect Daniel Robertson. According to popular legend, Robertson suffered terribly from gout and would direct the laborers while reclining in a wheelbarrow.

Touring the Japanese Garden

The Japanese Garden was the favorite retreat of Lord Londonderry. Springtime is best for visiting the Japanese Garden when the azaleas are in bloom. But visitors in the fall are treated to the foliage of the Japanese maples. This garden has many traditional Japanese elements, including a pagoda and a stream that runs beneath beautiful Japanese-style bridges. The grotto is a particularly romantic place, with secret pathways and moss-covered walls.

Planning Your Visit to Powerscourt Gardens

The gardens are open year-round. They open daily from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, with an earlier closure at dusk during the winter. An accessible route is available through the gardens for disabled visitors. If you fall in love with Powerscourt Gardens and you live locally, consider purchasing a membership for unlimited access. Visitors to the area may best enjoy their trip by joining the Glendalough and Powerscourt tour, which begins with a ride along the rugged coastline and concludes at the gardens.

Stourhead is one of the most famous examples of the English landscape garden. It’s a 2,650-acre estate located at the River Stour in Wiltshire, England. The gardens were completed in the 1740s and were widely described as being a work of art.

History of Stourhead

The Stourhead estate was originally home to the Stourton family. The estate changed ownership during the early 18th century, and a new manor home was built by the new owners, the Hoare family. Many additions have been made over the centuries, including the building of three temples, a tower, an ornamental cottage, and a Grecian-style lodge.

Landscape Gardens at Stourhead

Although visitors to Stourhead are enchanted by the architectural wonders of the mansion, it’s the gardens that most come to see. Exploring the gardens is a journey in spirituality. Visitors follow a path around an artificially created lake. The path is intended to bring to mind the mythological journey of Aeneas (son of Aphrodite) as he traveled to the underworld. The path and the exquisite gardens along it are intended to guide visitors through various states of mind that are replicated in the artwork collected by the Hoare family.

Access to Stourhead

There is a fee for access to Stourhead. Disabled parking and bathroom facilities are available for guests. During the main season, there is a shuttle bus service from the visitor reception area to the house and garden entrances. The marked routes in the garden are wheelchair accessible, although visitors should be wary of some steep paths. Advance booking is required to use the stair climber in the house.

Synthetic lawns are particularly popular in the parts of the U.S. that don’t see regular rainfall year-round, like Arizona. They are eco-friendly, and they look as beautiful as a natural lawn. A synthetic lawn will stay gorgeously green without watering or fertilizing, and there’s no need to apply chemical weed killers. Although artificial grass requires very little maintenance compared to a natural lawn, there are still a few things you need to do to keep your landscape looking beautiful.

Brush your lawn once per month.

All lawns, natural or synthetic, will accumulate some debris, such as dead leaves. Use a broom with stiff bristles or a flexible lawn rake to brush your lawn once per month. Avoid using an implement with steel bristles, however, as this can damage the grass. Note that you may need to perform this step more often when the trees around your property lose their leaves. Brushing your lawn is also an effective way to coax the blades of fake grass to stand up straight once again. You may need to do an additional brushing after the kids have been playing on the lawn.

Pick up pet waste promptly.

If you have dogs, you’ll need to pick up their waste promptly. Use a plastic bag or pooper scooper to remove solid waste. Then, rinse down the area well with a hose. If the area is still dirty or it emits an odor, you can use an artificial turf deodorizer. Other options are eco-friendly enzyme cleaners, distilled white vinegar, or soapy water. You may need to use a little elbow grease to scrub the area.

Train dogs to relieve themselves in another area.

Although you’ll still have to pick up pet waste regardless of where it ends up, you may want to train your dogs to relieve themselves in a different area. This eliminates the need to deodorize the artificial grass. Patience and persistence are essential when training dogs to use a designated potty spot.

Santa Rita Landscaping is comprised of professionally trained designers and landscapers who install custom-designed landscapes, including synthetic lawns. We serve both homes and businesses in the Tucson area, and we offer professional maintenance services! Call (520) 623-0421 to get started on your project.