Desert Landscaping: How to Start and Maintain a Healthy Landscape in the Southwest

George Brookbank

George Brookbank’s “Desert Landscaping: How to Start and Maintain a Healthy Landscape in the Southwest” is a practical and essential guide for anyone seeking to create and maintain thriving landscapes in the challenging arid environments of the Southwest. Brookbank’s work is not merely a gardening manual, but a comprehensive approach to working with, rather than against, the desert’s inherent characteristics.

Here’s a breakdown of the book’s core themes:

• Arid Adaptation:
  • Brookbank directly addresses the unique challenges of desert landscaping, including extreme temperatures, limited rainfall, and often poor soil conditions.
  • He emphasizes the importance of understanding and adapting to these conditions to create sustainable and healthy landscapes.
• Water Conservation:
  • A central tenet of the book is water conservation. Brookbank provides practical strategies for minimizing water use, including efficient irrigation techniques, xeriscaping principles, and the selection of drought-tolerant plants.
• Native and Adapted Plants:
  • The book highlights the importance of using native and adapted plants that are well-suited to the Southwest’s climate and soil.
  • Brookbank provides detailed information on plant selection, including trees, shrubs, perennials, and ground covers.
• Soil Management:
  • Brookbank addresses the importance of soil health in desert landscapes, offering guidance on soil amendments, drainage, and erosion control.
  • He understands the common poor soil conditions of the desert, and gives practical advice on how to improve those conditions.
• Landscape Design Principles:
  • The book explores landscape design principles that are tailored to desert environments, emphasizing the creation of functional and aesthetically pleasing landscapes.
  • This includes considerations for plant placement, hardscaping, and the creation of microclimates.
• Maintenance Practices:
  • Brookbank provides practical guidance on maintaining desert landscapes, including pruning, fertilizing, and pest control.
  • He emphasizes the importance of sustainable maintenance practices that minimize environmental impact.

In essence, “Desert Landscaping” serves as a valuable resource for homeowners, landscape professionals, and anyone seeking to create beautiful and sustainable landscapes in the arid regions of the Southwest.