Blog

Arizona Landscape Design

BLOG

Creating your own personal oasis in the desert is easier when you’re armed with the right information. Our blog—with design trends, tips and tricks for landscaping, backyard features to consider, DIY hacks, and how-to guides—will help you grow smarter. Enjoy!

September 19, 2024

Tips for Installing a Putting Green in Your Backyard

Whether you are a golf enthusiast or just a homeowner looking to enhance your outdoor space, you might want to consider adding a putting...

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September 19, 2024

Best Potted Plants for an Arizona Patio

Arizona’s hot, dry climate and intense sunlight can pose challenges for gardening in any outdoor space—including patios. In fact, the materials used for patios...

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September 18, 2024

Rustic Creek Landscaping Featured in City Lifestyle Magazine

Rustic Creek Landscaping, Inc. was featured in Queen Creek City Lifestyle Magazine which covered our background and highlighted some of our landscaping services and...

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August 20, 2024

Garden Types to Consider for an Arizona Landscape

Arizona’s climate, with its arid environment and intense heat, poses challenges for traditional gardening. But with thoughtful planning and preparation, it is possible to...

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August 20, 2024

Custom vs. Prefabricated Outdoor Kitchens

Just like the kitchen is the heart of the home, an outdoor kitchen can be the heart of your backyard. Adding an outdoor kitchen...

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July 15, 2024

Types of Outdoor Fire Pits for Landscaping

Adding an outdoor fire pit to your landscaping can transform your backyard into a cozy, inviting space that’s perfect for relaxing, entertaining, and warming...

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July 15, 2024

Landscape Design Touches to Give Your Arizona Yard a Unique Feel

In any design project, the ultimate goal is to create something that is not only beautiful and functional, but is also uniquely “you.” Designing...

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June 19, 2024

Things to Know Before Purchasing Plants for Landscaping

When designing a landscape, the right plants can make all the difference. Sure, this means thinking about things like size, shape, and color, since...

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June 19, 2024

Low Maintenance Succulents for Arizona Landscapes

Arizona’s arid climate presents unique challenges for landscaping, but it provides some opportunities, too. For example, it’s the perfect environment for a variety of...

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May 15, 2024

Options for Adding a Backyard Spa

Most people want their backyards to be a haven of rest and relaxation, but how can you actually create that? One popular way is...

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May 15, 2024

How to Help Your Plants Survive an Arizona Heatwave

Arizona is a beautiful place to live, with stunning landscapes and iconic desert scenery. But then…there’s the scorching heat. While Arizona’s residents make seasonal...

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April 16, 2024

Landscape Design Tips for a Hillside Property

Hillside properties offer a unique canvas for landscape design—but they also present a tricky challenge. When done properly, you can use your sloped landscape...

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April 16, 2024

Creating an Outdoor Space for Self Improvement

These days, the pace of life is…hectic, to put it mildly. Doctors and mental health professionals are quick to point out the need for...

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March 25, 2024

Is There a Difference Between Patios and Porches?

Everyone has heard the two terms “patio” and “porch,” but does everyone know what each of those terms really means? The words “patio” and...

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March 25, 2024

How to Choose the Perfect Spot for Your Outdoor Fire Pit

Let’s be honest: who wouldn’t enjoy an outdoor fire pit in their backyard? The crackling flames, the warmth on a chilly evening, the cozy...

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February 22, 2024

Exploring Unique, Custom Hardscape Options for Your AZ Landscape

When it comes to designing outdoor spaces, the focus is usually on the landscaping. Many homeowners often overlook the potential of custom hardscape options....

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February 22, 2024

Fall vs. Spring: When Is the Best Time to Plant New Plants?

If you want to plant new plants in your yard, you’ll quickly realize that timing is everything. The decision of when to plant is...

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January 19, 2024

How to Successfully Plant Succulents

Succulents have surged in popularity in recent years. With their unique appearance, undeniable beauty, and low-maintenance appeal, succulents catch the attention of plant enthusiasts...

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January 19, 2024

Decorative Options for Block Walls

The block walls you likely have surrounding your yard serve several practical purposes: they offer privacy, create security, and define boundaries between you and...

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December 15, 2023

The Best Plants for People with Allergies

Everyone loves a lush green landscape, and many people are passionate about caring for plants inside their homes, too. But for individuals battling allergies,...

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December 15, 2023

Common Landscape Design Mistakes to Avoid

Embarking on a landscape design project can be an exciting journey. When you start, you have high hopes—not just for the beautiful outdoor space...

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November 17, 2023

Pros and Cons of Outdoor Kitchens

Nothing transforms your backyard into an outdoor living space quite like an outdoor kitchen. With everything you need to prepare a meal right in...

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November 17, 2023

Enhance Your Hardscape With These Seating Options

When designing any space, it’s always crucial to think about style and functionality. Seating is where these two aspects of design come together in...

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October 23, 2023

Tips to Prepare Your Landscape for an Arizona Fall

As the scorching heat of the Arizona summer (finally) begins to wear off, the cooler temperatures of fall approach. When the seasons change, it’s...

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October 23, 2023

The Pros and Cons of Financing Your Landscape Design

Creating the perfect landscape for your home can be an exciting project, but it often comes with a hefty price tag. Many people turn...

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September 27, 2023

How to Create a Landscape Design Plan

A well-designed landscape can transform your outdoor space into a beautiful and functional area that enhances your home’s aesthetics and adds value to your...

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September 27, 2023

Where Can I Find Rocks for Landscaping?

Almost every landscape design includes rocks in some way, shape, or form. Landscaping with rocks is a timeless and visually appealing way to transform...

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August 17, 2023

Tips for Installing a Backyard Splash Pad

In a hot climate like Arizona, the value of backyard water features cannot be understated. While most people consider the gold standard to be...

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August 17, 2023

Should I Use Artificial Plants in My Landscaping?

Artificial plants have long been a popular option for adding a natural look and feel to a home’s interior. But can artificial plants work...

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July 24, 2023

Aquascape Options to Consider When Designing Your Landscape

When it comes to adding water to your landscape design, a pool isn’t your only option. In fact, many people prefer to bring water...

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July 24, 2023

Landscape Design Elements that Attract Wildlife

Many people put effort into keeping wildlife out of their yards, with fences, chemical repellents, and more. But what about those of us who...

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June 15, 2023

3 Signs that You Should Hire a Professional Landscaper

Not every landscaping project requires professional help, but how can you know when it’s time to DIY, and when it’s time to call in...

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June 15, 2023

What Is a Sustainable Landscape?

A “sustainable” landscape, also known as an “eco-friendly” or “green” landscape, is an outdoor area that is designed and maintained in a way that...

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May 17, 2023

Tips for Maintaining Your Pool and Landscape During Monsoon Season

Monsoon season in Arizona officially begins each year on June 15, and with it comes high winds, blowing dust, lightning strikes, often heavy rain,...

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May 17, 2023

Drought-Tolerant Plants for Your Yard

Living in the desert doesn’t mean you have to give up on the idea of having plants in your yard. After all, the desert...

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April 13, 2023

How to Determine the Best Lawn Type for Your Yard

Planting a lawn seems like it should be pretty straightforward: just seed, fertilize, water, and enjoy. While the actual process may be that simple,...

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April 13, 2023

Succulents and Other Options for Shaded Areas

Shaded areas of your yard can be tricky to deal with. How can you best use those areas that get little to no direct...

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March 27, 2023

Best Shrubs and Bushes for Desert Landscape

Whenever you are designing your home’s landscape, you should always keep your climate in mind. The plants that naturally thrive in your local climate...

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March 27, 2023

Tips for Creating an Outdoor Space Where You Can Host Events

Anyone can host an event at their home, but there are some things you can do to make hosting easier, more comfortable, and more...

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February 20, 2023

How to Prevent Wildlife from Damaging Your Landscape

You’ve worked hard to create the yard you want, and now, you want to protect it. Unfortunately, wildlife may want to enjoy your yard...

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February 20, 2023

Eco-Friendly Landscape Design Tips

Everyone wants a beautifully landscaped yard, but not everyone is happy with the toll a lush, green yard can have on the environment. Some...

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January 20, 2023

Plants to Attract Hummingbirds and Other Wildlife

One of the best parts of being outdoors is enjoying the birds, insects, and other wildlife you see in their natural habitats. Today, we’re...

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January 20, 2023

Best Seasonal Flowers for an Arizona Spring

Spring is the season best known for its colorful blooms. But if you want to take advantage of all the flowers of the season,...

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December 16, 2022

Modern Design Elements for Your Landscape

When people think of “modern” design, they usually think of interior design: sleek finishes, unusual fixtures, and abstract art. But modern design doesn’t have...

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December 16, 2022

5 Questions to Ask a Potential Landscape Designer

Hiring a landscape designer can seem like a daunting prospect. The decision is an important one, as the person you choose will have a...

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November 17, 2022

Fun Family Activities You Can Do in Your Backyard

It’s finally that time of year in Arizona—when the weather has cooled down enough that we can get outside and enjoy our backyards again!...

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November 17, 2022

Pros and Cons of Lawn-Free Front Yard Design

A front lawn is almost a given of home ownership…but it’s not an obligation that everyone wants to take on. Some people opt to...

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October 17, 2022

Tips for Designing a Backyard Garden

Good design can change everything—and that is just as true outside your home as it is inside it. When you’re working on a backyard...

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October 17, 2022

Reasons to Use a Drip Irrigation System

When it comes to keeping the plants, trees, or flowers in your yard healthy and thriving, there are a couple important things to consider,...

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September 20, 2022

Fun Landscape Elements to Enjoy This Winter

One of the best things about winter in the Phoenix area is that while most of the country is hunkering down for the bitter...

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September 20, 2022

Things to Consider When Purchasing Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture can add a lot to your outdoor living possibilities, but it can also be a big investment. For that reason, it is...

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August 17, 2022

What Is a Living Wall? (And How to Add One to Your Home or Yard)

The best landscape design elements don’t just mimic the beauty of nature—they actually recreate it. That is definitely the goal when it comes to...

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August 17, 2022

Options for Outdoor Fireplaces and Firepits

There are plenty of fun ways to add visual interest and useful function to your backyard, but by far, one of the most popular...

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July 26, 2022

Add a Splash of Color to Your Landscape with These 4 Plants

When it comes to yard design, most Arizonans take one of two directions: either they choose to make their yard lush and green (with...

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July 26, 2022

Water Features to Install Instead of a Pool

Almost every homeowner in the Phoenix area has at least thought of installing a pool at one point or another. With swimming season extending...

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June 16, 2022

Ways to Give Your Landscape a More Artistic Feel

When working on bringing personality to their home design, many people focus on the interior of their home. But there are plenty of design...

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June 16, 2022

Landscape Design Ideas to Increase Your Home’s Value

When designing your home (and the landscape surrounding it), it’s always a good idea to keep resale value in mind. No matter what the...

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May 18, 2022

Best Plants for Creating a Privacy Hedge

Your home is your family’s sanctuary, and you do your best to keep it as safe and as private as possible. This includes doing...

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May 18, 2022

Best Shade Trees for Arizona Climate

Unless you want to stay inside absolutely all season long, it’s important to have ways to cool off outside during the brutal Arizona summer....

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April 15, 2022

How to Protect Your Plants from Heat Waves

For most of the United States, the threat of frost is very real for plants, even late into the spring. In Arizona however, plants...

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April 15, 2022

Landscape Design Trends for 2022

A well-designed backyard is hard to beat. When you design your yard with intention, it expands the livable area of your home and creates...

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March 15, 2022

How to Get a Jump on Weeds with Pre-Emergent

Weeds are the bane of existence for most gardeners, landscapers, and homeowners. Staying on top of weeds can feel like shoveling snow in a...

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February 28, 2022

Top Citrus and Fruit Tree Options for Arizona

Many homeowners in Arizona want a lush, green look for their yard landscaping, but think they are doomed to rocks and cacti.  That’s not...

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February 17, 2022

Toxic Plants to Avoid for Kids and Pets

In any type of design, safety should always be the number one priority. Your landscape design is no exception. Designing your outdoor areas so...

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January 14, 2022

3 Tips for Planting and Caring for Your Cactus in Phoenix

Not many plants can survive the extreme heat of a Phoenix summer, which is why many Arizonans turn to a more prickly solution to...

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January 14, 2022

What to Look For in a Landscape Design Company

Creating your dream yard is exciting, but it is also time consuming and costly. You want to make sure it’s done right the first...

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December 28, 2021

Landscape Design Trends for 2022

As 2021 draws to a close, many people are looking to the future as they make decisions about landscape design. So what are the...

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December 16, 2021

How to Protect Your Plants During Storms and Cold Fronts

The Phoenix area is known for its mild winters, but that doesn’t mean we never experience frigid—even freezing—temperatures. Winter nights in the desert can...

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November 19, 2021

What Type of Pergola Should You Choose?

A pergola is an excellent addition to any backyard. Defined as “an outdoor garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway, or sitting area,” a...

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November 19, 2021

Ways to Spruce Up Your Back Patio

Other people may be hunkering down for the fall and winter, but here in Arizona, the temperatures are (finally) dropping and we are all...

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October 27, 2021

Prepare Your Landscape for an Arizona Winter

“The most wonderful time of the year” in Arizona isn’t just about the holidays; it’s also about the incredible weather! In the Phoenix area,...

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October 27, 2021

Edible Plants that Are Easy to Grow

Most people think about beauty first when it comes to their landscaping, but the plants you grow in your yard can be both beautiful...

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September 15, 2021

Things to Consider when Building an Outdoor Kitchen

Building an outdoor kitchen is exciting, but it also brings with it a lot of decisions, stress, and of course, cost. That means that...

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September 15, 2021

Landscape Design Tips for Smaller Spaces

Many people think you have to have a big, sprawling backyard in order to justify stunning landscape design. But that’s simply not the case....

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August 16, 2021

Pizza Oven, BBQ Grill, or Smoker? Which Is Right for Your Yard?

When people spend a lot of time, energy, and money on perfecting their backyard, they want to end up with an outdoor space they...

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August 16, 2021

Simple Tips to Conserve Water

Water conservation is a big part of the landscaping discussion right now, especially in places like Phoenix. With brutally hot summers and naturally dry,...

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July 15, 2021

4 Keys to the Perfect Summer Pool Party

If you have a backyard pool in Arizona (lucky you!), you’ve probably hosted your fair share of pool parties. Most people that live in...

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July 15, 2021

Outdoor Lighting Ideas for Evening Entertainment

During the summer in the Phoenix area, sometimes the only time when it is bearable to be outside is after the sun goes down....

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June 23, 2021

Landscape Lighting: Solar Lights vs. Powered Lights

When designing your landscape, you face many decisions: pavers or concrete? Grass or turf? Fire pit or pergola? These big picture decisions are the...

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June 23, 2021

Landscape Ideas that Save on Water

If you want to have a lush, green lawn, there’s a hard truth you have to face: it is going to take a lot...

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May 24, 2021

Ways to Dress Up Your Walkways

Every element of your landscaping is an opportunity to impress. The smallest details can take your outdoor space from good to great, highlighting areas...

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May 24, 2021

Tips for Planting New Plants During the Arizona Summer

Summer in Arizona can be a brutal time for residents, but it can be just as brutal for plants. How is a new plant...

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April 16, 2021

Landscape Design Elements that Are Functional All Year Long

Some landscape design elements are clearly seasonal: the swimming pool gets plenty of use in the summer, but in the colder months, it’s all...

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April 16, 2021

What Does Hardscaping Mean?

Most people have heard of landscaping, but they think it just refers to the grass, trees, bushes, and other living things in a yard...

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March 19, 2021

Landscape Design Options for Creating a Private Outdoor Space

You want to get outside and enjoy your backyard … but so does everyone else. That might not be a problem at all for...

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March 19, 2021

Outdoor Entertainment Ideas for Summer Get-Togethers

For many Arizonans, summer means one thing: indoor entertainment. Air conditioning is key to surviving consistently triple-digit temperatures and those oppressive UV rays. And...

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February 17, 2021

4 Must-Haves for Your Outdoor Living Space

If there’s one trend we’ve seen really take off over the last few years, it’s creating outdoor living spaces. An outdoor living space essentially...

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February 17, 2021

Landscape Design Features that Help Provide Shade

It’s springtime in Arizona, which can only mean one thing for Phoenicians: summer is on the way. While we’re still basking in the cooler...

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January 29, 2021

Low Maintenance Plant Ideas for Arizona

Maintaining a yard is difficult in the best of circumstances. Add in an arid desert climate, and you’re up for a real challenge. While...

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January 29, 2021

Benefits of Xeriscape Landscaping

Xeriscape landscaping, or xeriscaping, is landscaping done with water conservation in mind. In fact, most xeriscaping attempts to design landscaped areas that use little...

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December 30, 2020

Pros and Cons of DIY Outdoor Barbecues

At first thought, there might not seem to be any downsides to an outdoor barbecue grill or kitchen in your backyard. But just as...

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December 17, 2020

The Importance of Proper Landscape Lighting

When people think about landscaping their yard, they often think about bushes, trees, flowers, and grass. Some people go beyond that to think of...

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November 19, 2020

Wood Burning vs. Gas Outdoor Fire Pits

A fire pit is a popular addition to a backyard, and for good reason. Even in the Arizona desert, there’s nothing quite like sitting...

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November 19, 2020

Tips for Creating Your Own Zen Outdoor Space

The Japanese “zen garden” is designed using rocks, water, plants, and sand, all carefully designed and placed to promote mindfulness and meditation. As the...

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October 26, 2020

3 Ways Hardscaping Can Transform Your Landscape Design

While the greenery in your yard creates a lush, vibrant atmosphere, hardscaping does something entirely different, yet just as important. Hardscaping—the use of hard...

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October 26, 2020

Landscape Design Ideas for Entertaining During the Winter

For most of the country, winter is the time to bundle up and stay inside. In Phoenix, however, winter is prime time for getting...

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September 28, 2020

Safe Water Features for Children

In Arizona, water is a popular choice for sprucing up your landscaping. Whether you go all out with a swimming pool, or keep it...

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September 15, 2020

Arizona Seasonal Landscaping Tips

Landscaping in Arizona is unique to anywhere else in the world. Our dry, desert climate and warm temperatures mean that our landscaping looks a...

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August 27, 2020

5 Must-Haves for Your Outdoor Kitchen

If you’re looking to truly expand your living space into your backyard, then an outdoor kitchen is the way to go. The perfect outdoor...

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August 26, 2020

Real Grass vs. Artificial Turf

While artificial turf used to only be the stuff of miniature golf courses, it has come a long way over the years. In fact,...

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July 17, 2020

Things to Consider Before Installing a Swimming Pool

A swimming pool can be a fantastic investment for your backyard and your home. Swimming pools can provide unbeatable entertainment for your family and...

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July 17, 2020

Landscape Features to Help You Stay Cool

When you’re facing the brutal Arizona heat, every little bit helps when it comes to staying cool. While many Arizonans choose to spend the...

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June 17, 2020

Pavers vs. Concrete: The Pros and Cons

When designing your landscaping, there are lots of things to consider. From real grass vs. turf, to bushes vs. trees, to a vegetable garden...

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June 11, 2020

What to Look For in a Swimming Pool Company

Installing a swimming pool in your backyard is really exciting…and a little scary. After all, you’re trusting the pool company to take your (hefty)...

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May 28, 2020

Pros and Cons of Installing a Backyard Splash Pad

Splash pads used to only be found in public places, but recently, they’ve become a more popular backyard feature. There are a number of...

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May 28, 2020

Quarantine Activities Your Family Can Do in the Backyard

You may be stuck at home…but that doesn’t mean you have to be stuck inside! There are plenty of ways to have fun with...

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