18 Unusual Gardens Ideas To Consider

Desert/Cactus Garden

With their stark beauty, desert/cactus gardens are typically found in hot and arid environments. Plants featured are usually drought-tolerant, such as succulents, desert grasses, aloes, agaves and flowering bromeliads. A relatively low-maintenance endeavor, this type of garden is especially ideal for those who lack green thumbs or travel a lot.

“When I think of a desert garden, I have to include the term xeriscaping,” says Paul Knapp, designer and CEO of LandscapeArchitectural.com. “Xeriscaping is the practice of conserving water, propagating local wildlife and requiring the least amount of resources possible.”

For building out a desert garden, avoid grasses or lush plants that require lots of watering and fertilizing. Here are some elements to consider:

• Living walls. Choose succulents that can adapt to a vertical growing space with minimal soil.
• Texture, barrel-shaped cacti, tall and short plants together. Scatter rocks and boulders around the landscape to get that natural deserts vibe.
• Create a dry creek bed with tumbled stones to complete the sunbaked look.

These types of gardens are best suited for USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6 to 9.