How To Prepare Your Yard’s Soil For Las Vegas Xeriscape Landscape Designs
When you make the decision to try out a xeriscaped landscape design, it is important that you take the time to plan it out properly. One of the most important components of Las Vegas xeriscape landscape designs is the soil. What’s on the ground is going to create the base for what is growing. So you want to make sure that the soil is graded and fertilized properly. Learn how to do this before you start on your xeriscaping project.
Las Vegas Landscape Designs Require Space
One of the trademarks of a xeriscaped landscape is the removal of grass and other plants that require a lot of water. One of the first things that you will probably have to do when you are converting to a xeriscape design is get rid of your lawn. Clear out your yard so you have an open space to work with. This way you can start building your dream landscape design from the ground up, literally.
Get Rid Of Weeds And Pests
If you uncover any pests while you clear out your yard it would be smart to rid yourself of them. Ants, beetles, bees and other pests can get in your way and make big trouble for you later. Make sure that you call an exterminator to rid yourself of the problem.
You will also need to remove any weeds. While you might not think much of it now, they can mess up the design of your landscape. If you kill off as many weeds as you can before you start to add plants and create you landscape design you will be better off. Many people use solarization to get this done. This process involves using a tarp and sunlight to heat up the soil. This effectively will kill off any weeds through 10-12 inches of soil.
Assess The Damage
After you have exposed the soil one of the best things that you can do is have it tested. Las Vegas xeriscape landscape designs will do better when the soil meets certain criteria. You can hire a service provider to test your soils pH. They will also let you know if there are any heavy metals present, and what nutrients your soil has or doesn’t have. Additionally, the person that you hire should help you get your soil back to where it needs to be. This might mean adding compost or other nutrients to your soil.
Proper Irrigation Through Proper Grading
Especially while living in Las Vegas xeriscape landscape designs seem appealing. These landscapes keep the drought in mind. However, if your yard is not properly graded than the little water that your plants would get might not even make it all the way. Adding a slight slope to your yard to ensure that your plants get watered is a smart idea. Thankfully this is not hard to do. You can hire someone to do this, or do some research and fix the slope yourself.