How to Create a Drought-Tolerant Landscape in Las Vegas
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How to Create a Drought-Tolerant Landscape in Las Vegas - Creative Landscaping Las Vegas
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Lets dive into a topic thats as hot as the Vegas sun: creating a drought-tolerant landscape in Las Vegas. Best vegas landscapers Nevada. Thats right, were talking about a landscape thats as resilient as the city itself. But, how do we do it, you ask? Well, it aint rocket science, but it sure does require some planning and creativity.
First off, lets get this fact straight: Las Vegas is smack dab in the middle of a desert! (I know, hard to believe with all those fountains and swimming pools, right?) So, the first step is to embrace the desert – not fight it. This doesnt mean youve gotta settle for a barren, lifeless garden. Far from it! There are countless desert-adapted plants that are both beautiful and hardy.
Let's get deeper into this. To create a drought-tolerant landscape, its crucial to select plants that thrive in desert conditions.
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These arent your typical roses and daisies, mind you. Were talking about plants like Agave, Yucca, and the colorful desert Marigold. These plants dont just survive in the desert; they thrive! And the best part? They require minimal water, making them perfect for a drought-tolerant landscape.
Now, you cant just plonk these plants in the ground and expect them to grow. Nope, soil preparation is key! The natural soil in Vegas is not - and I repeat, not - ideal for planting. Its hard, dry, and lacks nutrients. So, whats the solution? Well, youve gotta amend the soil with organic matter to improve its texture and fertility.
Whats more, mulching is your best friend in a drought-tolerant landscape. A layer of mulch (like wood chips or gravel) can help the soil retain moisture, regulate temperature, and even suppress weeds! Its a triple win!
Oh, and lets not forget about watering.
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While these plants are drought-tolerant, theyre not completely immune to thirst! The trick is to water deeply but infrequently. This promotes deep root growth and helps the plant become more drought-tolerant.
Lastly, consider installing a drip irrigation system. Its way more water-efficient than a sprinkler system. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the plant roots, minimizing evaporation and wastage. Its a bit of an investment, but your plants (and water bill) will thank you in the long run!
So, there you have it, folks! Creating a drought-tolerant landscape in Las Vegas isnt as daunting as it seems. With the right plants, proper soil prep, and smart watering strategies, you can create a beautiful, resilient garden. And remember, when in doubt, embrace the desert!
Landscape architecture is the layout of outdoor locations, spots, and structures to accomplish environmental, social-behavioural, or aesthetic outcomes. It entails the systematic layout and general design of different frameworks for construction and human use, examination of existing social, environmental, and soil problems and processes in the landscape, and the design of other interventions that will certainly create wanted end results. The scope of the profession is wide and can be partitioned right into a number of sub-categories including expert or certified landscape designers who are managed by governmental companies and possess the proficiency to design a vast array of frameworks and landforms for human usage; landscape design which is not a qualified career; website preparation; stormwater monitoring; erosion control; ecological remediation; public world, parks, leisure and urban planning; visual resource management; environment-friendly infrastructure planning and stipulation; and private estate and house landscape master planning and style; all at varying scales of design, preparation and administration. A practitioner in the profession of landscape architecture might be called a landscape architect; nevertheless, in territories where professional licenses are needed it is usually just those that have a landscape architect certificate who can be called a landscape designer.
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About Sustainable landscaping
Lasting landscape design is a contemporary type of horticulture or landscape design that takes the environmental issue of sustainability into account. According to Loehrlein in 2009 this consists of style, building and management of domestic and commercial yards and integrates natural grass administration and organic horticulture methods.
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About Landscape engineering
A river with functional (flood preventing) engineering (in Houston, Texas)
Landscape engineering builds on the engineering strengths of declaring goals, determining initial conditions, iteratively designing, predicting performance based on knowledge of the design, monitoring performance, and adjusting designs to meet the declared goals. It builds on the strengths and history of reclamation practice. Its distinguishing feature is the marriage of landforms, substrates, and vegetation throughout all phases of design and construction, which previously have been kept as separate disciplines.
Though landscape engineering embodies all elements of traditional engineering (planning, investigation, design, construction, operation, assessment, research, management, and training), it is focused on three main areas. The first is closure planning – which includes goal setting and design of the landscape as a whole. The second division is landscape design more focused on the design of individual landforms to reliably meet the goals as set out in the closure planning process. Landscape performance assessment is critical to both of these, and is also important for estimating liability and levels of financial assurance. The iterative process of planning, design, and performance assessment by a multidisciplinary team is the basis of landscape engineering.
Source: McKenna, G.T., 2002. Sustainable mine reclamation and landscape engineering. PhD Thesis, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada 661p.
An example of contemporary landscape engineering and natural resources management related to the Biosphere 2 and seawater farming projects, is the IBTS Greenhouse, formerly the Forest City designed for the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah. The IBTS rests on a thoroughly integrated design with more than 340 different engineering, science and technology disciplines. It was created for desert greening of hot, arid deserts and optimized for fresh water production from saline, or brackish water. The Integrated Biotectural System is based on a wetland, more specifically a mangrove eco-system designed for food and fodder production of 80tons per hectare and year, also called mariculture. The atmosphere inside the IBTS is turned into a potent water source and harvested with a combination of condensation utilities which makes it a more energy efficient desalination facility than industrial plants. It can produce 500.000m3 of distilled water per day while reclaiming 1000ha of hot arid desert lands. The electricity for the desalination is produced by an on-site forest of micro wind turbines located on the same footprint. These numbers are important because the performance data of for-profit engineered landscapes like wetlands for wastewater treatment or agro-ecological farming sites distinguishes technically feasible from financially and ecologically beneficial projects.
The IBTS is an example for sustainable landscape design that reclaims and recreates productive ecosystems including seawater farming, aquaculture, farming, forestry and residence for a human population. It has become feasible because of the design of a Bedouin Greenhouse-shape, automatic construction and maintenance of the vast membrane Sky-roof. The up-front and operational cost could thus be reduced so far that entire landscapes can be covered permanently, not in a common greenhouse fashion, but with an architectural structure that allows for a real-size forest and urban development below the Sky-roof.
The inherent concepts of the IBTS can be used to engineer, terra-form and activate deserts and other landscapes with harsh conditions. In 2015 the governor of Alaska received an offer for a fully self-sufficient multi-residence housing project based on the concepts developed for the IBTS project and adopted for arctic climate by the developer TS Prototype-Creation.
It was there where Carpenter began the first organized and systematic college program for irrigation engineering starting in 1888. Those completing such instruction were awarded a bachelor of science degree in irrigation engineering.[4][5][6]
Carpenter was one of the foremost leading experts on irrigation systems. During his life he investigated irrigation systems not only in North America but also in Canada and Europe. This led to his engineering consulting and water law. He became Colorado's state engineer which he held for several years while still teaching.[6] Carpenter was involved in not only in irrigation engineering but consulting on hydraulic construction projects and the problems associated with such projects.[6][7]
^"Carpenter, Louis George, educator". The twentieth century biographical dictionary of notable Americans ... Volume 2 of The twentieth century biographical dictionary of notable Americans by Rossiter Johnson, John Howard Brown - published by the Biographical Society. 1904. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
^De Puy, William Harrison (1908). "Carpenter, Louis George, engineer". The world-wide encyclopedia and gazetteer: Compiled and revised to Date from the leading encyclopedias of the world. A dictionary of Arts, sciences and literature, to which is added biographies of living subjects, One hundred colored Maps and numerous illustrations, William Harrison De Puy - Volume 9 - Page 720 - published by The Christian Herald. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
^"Carpenter, Louis George, engineer". New American supplement to the New Werner Twentieth Century Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica ... Illustrated with Hundreds of Portraits and Other Engravings, Volume 2 New American Supplement to the New Werner Twentieth Century Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica ... Illustrated with Hundreds of Portraits and Other Engravings - published by the Werner Company. 1905. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
Native Americans were the first to inhabit the area. Paiute Indians settled in the area in around 700 AD.[10]
During the 1860s, Conrad Kiel established a ranch at the modern-day intersection of Carey Street and Losee Road in what would be North Las Vegas.[11] In 1917, libertarian Thomas L. Williams of Eureka, Utah visited the Las Vegas Valley, back when Las Vegas, Las Vegas Indian Colony, and Arden were the only entities in the valley.[11] He did not approve of Las Vegas, perhaps because of its rowdiness (he was a Christian, or at least went to church), or because Las Vegas' attempts at municipal control over its citizens. However, he was pleased by the abundance of the valley's artesian water and potential for agriculture.[11] Two years later in 1919, he moved together with his family (his wife and three sons) to a 160-acre piece of land a mile from Las Vegas. That year, he founded his town, developing the town by building for himself and his family a house, sinking a well, grading roads, extending power lines, and forming a system of irrigation ditches.[11] Williams believed that churches and church people should govern the new town, and so encouraged churches to buy property in the town.[11] In 1919, the federally enforced Volstead Act was passed, which prohibited the sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol. Since there was no local law against alcohol, and because of a system of tunnels that would connect the town's underground speakeasies, the town attracted bootleggers from Las Vegas, although Williams was initially unaware of this. This gave his town the nickname of "Old Town".[11] When he did discover it, he stuck with agriculture for his economic purposes.[11]
In 1924, Williams built his second house that was the first business of the town. It was named the Oasis Auto Court, and it contained a grocery store, a campground, a post office, a community center, and a telephone. At the time, it was the town's only telephone.[11] Between 1928 and 1935, a large influx of workers from the Hoover Dam settled in Williams' town, as Las Vegas was intolerant towards them.[11] In 1932, the town board was created. That same year, the town's first grammar school, Washington School, opened.[11] A proper name had not yet been established for the town, and Williams did not want it named after himself, which lead to the town board voting for either "North Las Vegas" or "Vegas Verdes" (which means "Green Meadows" in Spanish). "Vegas Verdes" won, and that became the name for the town for a few months. George Hansen, a town board member who voted for the name "North Las Vegas", noticed that at one town board meeting, two members who voted the name "Vegas Verdes" were absent. The vote for a name came once again, and "North Las Vegas" won.[12][11] In 1939, Williams died of stroke, and that left North Las Vegas to the ruling of the town board. An elementary school, and a road, were eventually named after him.[13][14] During World War II, the Las Vegas Aerial Gunnery School opened in North Las Vegas. It would eventually become Nellis Air Force Base.[11] North Las Vegas was the subject of many annexation attempts from Las Vegas. On May 1, 1946, North Las Vegas was incorporated as a city.[11] In 1957, North Las Vegas planned to annex an area to its southeast, and in response, the Clark County Commission created the town of Sunrise Manor to prevent further annexation attempts.[15]
On May 13, 1964, First Lieutenant Raynor Lee Hebert, a student pilot from Port Arthur, Texas, took off from Nellis Air Force Base at approximately 2:00 PM on an F-105 fighter jet. He radioed his flight leader saying that he could not retract his nose gear, and thus could not gain altitude. He was at a height high enough to bail out, but too low that if he did, he would've hit Lincoln Elementary School, which was in session with 800 students. He kept the plane nose up long enough to pass the school, and eventually hit nine residential houses on Lenwood Avenue. The crash killed Hebert and four civilians. Hebert Memorial Park was created by the City of North Las Vegas with a plaque at the crash site to commemorate Hebert.[11][16]
In the early 1960s, North Las Vegas had a major growth boom. The 1970s in North Las Vegas saw a growth in poor neighborhoods, population density, and crime. In 1988, former mayor James Seastrand said in one interview,
There are those of us who live here and care for this city and would not move out of it — even though we could afford to.
In the 1990s, North Las Vegas annexed about 60 square miles (160 km2) of empty desert surrounding the city, reportedly for more "upscale" housing.[11][18]
On January 29, 2022, nine people were killed and a tenth person was critically injured following a six-vehicle crash at the intersection of Cheyenne Avenue and Commerce Street in North Las Vegas. The crash occurred after a speeding Dodge Challenger ran a red light and struck the other five vehicles. The road accident—the deadliest in the area in recent history—was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.[19]
Located within the Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States, North Las Vegas sits northeast of Las Vegas. According to the United States Census Bureau, North Las Vegas has a total area of 101.4 square miles (262.6 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.04%, is water.[20] In the Las Vegas Valley, there are several prominent mountain ranges nearby.
Due to its location within the Mojave Desert, North Las Vegas has a desert climate. Temperatures are generally mild in the winter and hot in the summer. Like most of the hot deserts of the United States, snowfall only occurs once every few years on average. In winter, temperatures are mild during the day but typically fall below freezing overnight. In the summer, monsoons can reach the area, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms.
This section needs expansion with: examples with reliable citations. You can help by adding to it. (September 2021)
North Las Vegas, Nevada – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the 2000 census, there were 115,488 people, 34,018 households, and 27,112 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,471.0 inhabitants per square mile (568.0/km2). There were 36,600 housing units at an average density of 466.2 per square mile (180.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 55.93% White, 19.02% African American, 0.82% Native American, 3.24% Asian, 0.53% Pacific Islander, 15.78% from other races, and 4.68% from two or more races. 37.61% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 34,018 households, out of which 47.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.36 and the average family size was 3.67.
In the city the population was spread out, with 33.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,057, and the median income for a family was $46,540. Males had a median income of $32,205 versus $25,836 for females. About 11.8% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over. The United States Census Bureau listed North Las Vegas, as well as the Las Vegas metropolitan area, as one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States.
Bigelow Aerospace is headquartered in North Las Vegas. Traditionally, manufacturing, industrial and warehouse distribution companies have dominated the local market. High-tech businesses, including solar and green technology, and custom manufacturing facilities are moving to North Las Vegas.
On May 12, 2019, Amazon opened a 850,000-square-foot fulfillment center in North Las Vegas which currently employs more than 1,500 people.[28] In October 2019 Sephora opened a 715,000-square-foot distribution center in North Las Vegas.[29]
As construction began on the nearby Brightline West highspeed railroad project, PCM Railone AG announced in June 2024 that they would build a production facility for concrete ties and open a North American headquarters in North Las Vegas.[30]
The city of North Las Vegas provides recreational amenities, police and fire protection, and water and wastewater services. The city, which was incorporated in 1946, encompasses 262.6 square kilometres (101.4 sq mi). The city operates under a council-manager form of government, with a mayor and four council members. The mayor is elected at large; and council members must live within, and are elected by their wards. The city has two municipal judges who are elected at large.
The city manager and city attorney are appointed by and report to the city council. The city manager's administration consists of an Economic Development Division, Strategic Planning Division, community Outreach Division, Communications and Marketing Division and the following departments: Administrative Services, City Clerk, Community Services and Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Parks and Recreation, Police, Public Works, the North Las Vegas Library District, and Utilities.
The City of North Las Vegas operates an extensive system of open spaces, parks and leisure services. The city maintains 34 parks totaling more than 475 acres (192 ha) of developed park land. Six of the city's parks feature water amenities, including pools, ponds and spray pads. The city also runs two recreation centers.
In June 2011 the city opened a third recreation center—SkyView Multi-Generational Recreation Center—focused on mufti-generational fitness and recreation. It is operated by the YMCA under contract to provide quality amenities and programs for residents of all ages.[33]
North Las Vegas park officials recently[when?] completed 10 miles (16 km) of regional trails along the Lower Las Vegas Wash and along the Upper Las Vegas Wash. These paved trails connect with Southern Nevada's Neon to Nature regional trail system, which is used for hiking, biking and leisurely strolls.
The North Las Vegas Library District operates three full-service libraries—North Las Vegas Library, Aliante Library and Alexander Library. Each offers public access computers, adult and children's programming and meeting rooms in addition to books, downloadable media, DVDs, magazines and newspapers. Each also provides wireless connectivity to the Web for patrons who wish to use their electronic devices.
The North Las Vegas Library, was the city's first library to open in 1966. Aliante Library opened to the public in May 2006 adjacent to the Nature Discovery Park, one of the most popular recreation amenities in North Las Vegas. Alexander Library, the city's newest state-of-the-art facility, opened in March 2009 and is adjacent to a two-acre park that includes tot lots, shade structures, paved and lighted walking paths and demonstration gardens.[34][citation needed]
The North Las Vegas Police Department was established in 1946 (when the city incorporated) to serve North Las Vegas, which at that time consisted of four square miles and a population of around 3,000. NLVPD grew to keep pace with the rapid growth of the city of North Las Vegas and Clark County. As of 2016, NLVPD provided law enforcement services to an area of 100.48 square miles (260.2 km2) and a population of approximately 233,808 citizens. As of July 2016, NLVPD had 309 commissioned personnel (Police and Detention Officers) and 106 civilian support personnel.[35]
North Las Vegas is home to the Cheyenne Campus of the College of Southern Nevada.[37] The institution covers an area of roughly 80 acres (32 ha) and provides for a broad variety of different courses.[38] As of 2013, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas was planning to open a branch in North Las Vegas near the I-215 Beltway, though this plan has yet to be implemented as of 2022.[38]
Primary and secondary school students in North Las Vegas are served by the Clark County School District (CCSD), the fifth-largest in the United States with over 300,000 students enrolled in any of its 357 schools.[39][40] CCSD has a workforce of over 35,000 people, and is considered a major employer in the county.[38][39]
The following high schools are in North Las Vegas:
^"North Las Vegas: About". Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
^ abc"2013 Community Report"(PDF). North Las Vegas City Council. January 2013. p. 17. Archived(PDF) from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
Top Landscaping Trends for Las Vegas Homes in 2025
As Las Vegas grows, so does its love for bold, modern, and sustainable outdoor spaces. This year, homeowners are embracing a fresh wave of landscaping trends tailored to desert living.
First on the list is artificial turf with stone borders. This combo offers clean lines and low maintenance—perfect for front yards and pet areas. No more brown spots or weekend lawn care!
Next, fire pits and hardscape lounges are turning backyards into true outdoor living rooms. Paver patios surrounded by succulents and native plants create a cozy yet contemporary vibe.
Vertical gardens are gaining popularity for small side yards and privacy screens. Paired with lighting and sleek fencing, they bring life to otherwise unused spaces.
Sustainability is key. Homeowners are choosing smart irrigation systems, solar lighting, and permeable pavers to reduce water use and runoff.
These trends prove that you can have a stylish, functional yard in Las Vegas without sacrificing comfort or conservation. Ready to refresh your landscape?
The Ultimate Guide to Drought-Tolerant Landscaping in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is known for its sunshine and dry desert climate, making water conservation a top priority for homeowners. Drought-tolerant landscaping isn’t just eco-friendly—it’s practical and beautiful too.
One of the best ways to save water is by embracing xeriscaping. This landscaping method uses native and drought-resistant plants like agave, desert spoon, and red yucca. These plants not only survive in Las Vegas heat but thrive with minimal irrigation.
Replacing traditional grass with artificial turf or decorative gravel is another popular choice. Not only does it reduce water bills, but it also keeps your lawn looking fresh year-round without mowing or fertilising.
Adding mulch to your garden beds helps retain soil moisture and prevent evaporation. Pair this with a smart drip irrigation system, and you’ll be watering efficiently without waste.
Drought-tolerant doesn’t mean dull. With the right design, you can create a vibrant landscape full of colour, texture, and curb appeal—all while protecting Las Vegas’ precious water resources.
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