5 Inspiring Drought Tolerant Landscape Designs
Montecito drought tolerant landscape design with gravel paths, Olive trees, succulents, nepeta, ceanothus, pittosporum with contemporary home in Santa Barbara California

This drought tolerant landscape design uses Mediterranean plants such as Olive trees and a variety of sages, nepeta and succulents

If you are contemplating removing lawn and replacing it with something that needs less water, the good news is there are lots of drought tolerant landscape design ideas to choose from and it is a chance to have some fun. Though some may insist on installing plastic, artificial turf, there are loads of more creative design ideas. Rather than thinking of a "substitute" consider it an opportunity for creativity and new design.

Here are my Top Five drought tolerant landscape design ideas.

Montecito landscape drought tolerant garden design with decomposed granite paths, California native plants, Oak trees create deep shade

California live Oaks create shade for hammock and this beautiful garden

1. Shade gardens and meandering paths

Have you ever walked through a forest? The earth is soft beneath your feet, springy to the step, the air fragrant and cool. A shade garden can be a great lawn replacement. The careful selection of trees and shrubs and meandering pathways leading one to destinations like a secret garden,  hammock or tree house make the perfect venue for kids and dogs to romp and play. And who doesn’t love a good game of “Hide and Seek”?

Debra Lee Baldwin succulent design in San Diego County on hillside author of succulents simplified drought tolerant landscape design

Succulents can be used creatively to create a lush garden atmosphere without the water

2. Say it with succulents

If you've ever had any doubts about the ability to create a beautiful, green oasis, without lawn, succulent expert Debra Lee Baldwin will convince you otherwise. In her own garden she created the illusion of water complete with succulent “lily pads”. Debra’s most recent book “Succulents Simplified” is all you will need to create your own lush paradise.

This contemporary home is surrounded by a beautiful drought tolerant garden design with French limestone fountain from Eye of the Day GDC in Carpinteria.

3. Courtyards and Fountains  

When your lawn disappears, create more space for outdoor entertaining by constructing pathways, courtyards or terraces using stone, or gravel. Add fountains, pots or sculpture as a focal point then soften the area with low-water plantings (Lavender, Thyme, Santa Barbara Daisy, Yarrow, Mexican Sage just to name a few) and you have a lovely, fragrant, easy-to-care-for and low-water garden everyone will enjoy for years to come.

If you are going to use water, why not go edible? Sunflowers are beautiful, edible and such fun for kids

4. Herbs, Flowers and Edible Gardens

Herbs, edibles and flowers are another excellent choice for drought-tolerant gardens. Yes, you can have Roses in a drought-tolerant garden, with good, living soil and lots of mulch, they don’t need as much water as you might think. Cutting flowers such as Sunflower, Dahlia, Shasta Daisy and Alstroemeria all do very well in our climate and give endless bouquets of color. Perennial herbs, vegetables, fruit and nut trees come in many shapes, sizes and add a variety of textures and colors. Imagine all the fun stuff you can make when you create your very own Eden. Pickles, Jams and Marmalades, herbal salts (if you need recipes email me).

Montecito drought tolerant landscape design ideas in Santa Barbara CountyCeanothus, myoporum groundcover, agave attenuata, California live Oak, Boulder birdbath

A boulder serves as a bird bath in this Montecito drought tolerant landscape design

 5. Walk on (or not) drought tolerant groundcovers

If you aren’t inspired by now to rip out your lawn and get planting there’s always, groundcover. Try Falkia, Dymondia or Wooly Yarrow which will tolerate traffic once established. Other ground covers that give a feeling of lawn without the water or the mowing are Sedum, Santa Barbara Daisy, myoporum, falkia, Geranium incanum and Creeping Thyme. There are a myriad of grasses that need little care and very little water. Some drought-tolerant grasses (such as Carex) can be mowed like lawn but need much less water. These are just a few of the ideas to get you started toward a “greener” garden.

If this doesn’t inspire you, call me; I have even more ideas if you need them.

Until next time, Fill your garden with joy! (not water) xo Lisa