Mulch as much as possible. This reduces water use by decreasing soil temperature and amount of soil exposed to wind. Keep rocked or graveled areas to a minimum as they increase the temperature of the air and soil. Large expanses of black plastic also waste water through runoff. An audio feature gives pronunciations of both the botanical and the common names of the plants.
Users can compare groups of similar plants.
A plant selector will help choose appropriate species based on size and growth rate, soil and sun requirements, irrigation needs, the plants' place of origin, allergens, wildlife interactions and dozens of other useful elements. Links to landscaping tips and an illustrated bibliography of plant books also are provided. Gary Woodard, Associate Director at WRRC, located in the College of Agriculture at the University of Arizona, was the project manager for Desert Landscaping . Besides Woodard and the staff at WRRC, the project also includes the expertise of a 22-member advisory panel that encompasses experts from academia and landscape professionals. The venture was made possible in large part with support from the Tucson office of the Arizona Department of Water Resources.