It’s hard to get creative with backyard ideas in Arizona due to the desert heat. Succulent plants that can thrive in the heat are a must, and decorating with rocks has been elevated to an art form. But how do we make that even better? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different ways to make an Arizona backyard look amazing. If you’re searching for a few ideas, we’ve got you covered!
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TIP: If you've just arrived and are in need of a storage unit in Arizona, Storage Solutions has clean, safe, and affordable options.
#1: Go Cacti Crazy with Desert Plants & Succulents
Unless you’ve never, ever seen a western movie, you no doubt know that the west is filled with cacti. Referred to as succulents by horticulturalists, cacti thrive in hot, dry climates, making them perfect for Arizona. Even better, there are over 2500 species of cactus in a wondrous array of sizes and shapes. From the Prickly Pear to the Barbary Fig, Saguaro, and Jumping Cholla, the variety of cacti is almost endless.
Cacti are relatively easy to grow, need very little water, and even less pruning. They come in different sizes too, making them perfect for big or small backyards. You can also have a wide variety in the same space for a unique look all your own. Below are several types of cacti that experts say are the easiest to grow and care for, including:
Saguaro Cactus
This is what many folks picture in their mind when they think of cacti. Place your Saguaro cactus in a bright spot that provides it with both direct and indirect light. Although they are drought-tolerant, it is better to water them moderately.
Echinopsis Cactus
This cactus is fondly known as the Hedgehog Cactus. To care for this cactus, allow the soil to become nearly dry between waterings, but then water thoroughly. Excellent drainage is essential, so never let the pots sit in water. Suspend watering in the winter, but mist occasionally.
Opuntia Cactus
The “prickly pear” cactus, are lovely Arizona backyard ideas, but they have sharp spines! So they’re not great if you have small children around. They are extremely drought tolerant. Water every two to four weeks for the first year, after that rainfall will be enough to sustain these plants when they’re older.
Blue Columnar Cactus
These are some of the biggest cacti; they can grow to 33 feet! Make sure they get bright indirect to full direct sun. The more sun the more blue the stem will be! As for watering, make sure to allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Water less frequently in the winter and more in the summer.
#2: Try Stones and Pebbles in Your Arizona Backyard
Okay, pebbles and stones aren’t exactly a novel idea when it comes to Arizona backyard ideas. However, grass, while beautiful, doesn’t do very well in the Arizona heart (or, for that matter, cold). Also, grass needs a lot of H20, which isn’t exactly abundant in our state. The solution? Pebbles and stones, which are abundant in Arizona and, more importantly, don’t need water to look and stay fantastic.
Even better, landscaping your backyard with stones and pebbles couldn’t be easier! Cover the entire backyard or spread them around between walkways, plants, and gardens. They’ll stay where you put them, never age, never rot, and, most importantly, they look fantastic.
#3: Use Artificial Grass for Your Arizona Backyard
Hear us out, another of our amazing backyard ideas for Arizona is artificial grass. The industry has come a long way! One of the realities of Arizona is that it gets hot as blazes here many months of the year. Another, as we mentioned already, is that water is super scarce here. For those two reasons, many people in Arizona use artificial grass or turf in their backyard. Not only does artificial grass stand up to the sun’s heat, but it also needs zero gallons of water to stay green.
Even better, artificial grass never turns brown (but it can get dusty). You can shape artificial grass to fit any yard, too, even if it’s got lots of nooks and crannies. Plus, laying it around walkways, play areas, and other features is a breeze. (It’s easy to cut into any shape you need!)
#4: Plant Some Pretty Palm Trees in Your Backyard
Like cacti, palm trees can easily handle dry, hot climates. They don’t need a lot of water either, but they look beautiful and provide some protective shade. (Essential in our hot, dry climate.) Indeed, palm trees are excellent ideas in any Arizona backyard, especially around a pool or garden. Plus, they need very little attention and will grow well even if left entirely alone. (Talk to them once in a while, though. Plants like that.)
#5: Combining a Little of Everything in Your Backyard
For a truly unique backyard, combine cacti, pebbles, stones, palm trees, and artificial grass. Throw in a wrought iron bench, lounge chairs, and a fire pit, and you’ve got the Arizona backyard of your dreams. You can have a wild variety of cacti and palms and some bigger stones for variety. In other words, the sky’s the limit in terms of how creative you want to be.
If you’re lucky enough to have a pool, you can really get creative. Lining the deck with potted cacti is lovely, and palm trees will give you shade while you swim. A paving stone pathway leading to the pool and surrounded by cacti would be striking, especially if lighted at night.
Get a Storage Unit for Your Arizona Backyard Ideas!
Many folks aren’t sure what to do when they can’t grow grass in their backyard, a common dilemma in Arizona. As we’ve seen today, however, there are plenty of ways to make your Arizona backyard look fabulous! Here at Storage Solutions, we’ve seen many captivating backyards and helped many people create them. How? By providing safe, clean, and secure storage units in Arizona to store backyard supplies and gardening tools.
If you’ve just moved into your new Arizona home and need extra space, we can help. You could store almost anything in one of our Arizona storage units! For example, everything you need for your new backyard! Including gardening supplies like wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, and other tools would fit well in a 5 x 5 storage unit. You can also store household goods, of course, plus antiques, collectibles, and even cars and RVs.
Final Thoughts on Arizona Backyard Ideas
If you have questions about renting a storage unit in AZ, you can chat with us online. More of a face-to-face type of person? No problem! Visit one of our local Arizona self-storage locations and meet the on-site manager. They’ll be happy to show you some storage units and help you pick one that fits your needs best. Until then, have a great time designing your Arizona backyard. Like the weather here, we’re sure you’ll end up with a truly hot backyard!
