Landscaping is an important aspect of a home. Not only does is it reflect your personality and bring enjoyment to family and friends, it also enhances your neighborhood, increases property value and can even help to reduce energy bills.

If you have just purchased your home or are looking to transform the look of your current home, there are many things to consider while trying to come up with the perfect design to fit your needs. Not only do you need to come up with the perfect look, but you need to consider what type of landscape will thrive in the desert of Southern Nevada.

The Colorado River basin is main source of water for the Las Vegas Valley which has been facing the worst drought on record. Because of this the Southern Nevada Water Authority has developed a Drought Plan. This should also be taken into consideration when designing the landscape for your Las Vegas Home. There are certain limitations and restrictions that apply based on the drought status.

In order to help you conserve water and save money, the Southern Nevada Water Authority offers a Water Smart Landscape Rebate program in which they will provide a rebate of $1 for every square foot of grass you replace with a more water-efficient landscape. According to SNWA every square foot of grass replaced with Water Smart trees, shrubs, and flowers saves 55 gallons of water per year which also saves you, the homeowner, money. Here are some other landscape tips provided by SNWA to help manage your bill and maintain a healthy yard:

• Set your sprinklers to three four minute cycles a day. It is best to set the cycles one hour apart to allow the water to soak into the ground.
• All three cycles should be done early in the morning before the sun comes up to avoid water loss due to evaporation.
• Avoid watering on windy days and rainy days.
• There are warm season grasses that require less water (such as Bermuda grass).
• Check irrigation system often and replace broken parts immediately. Sprinkler heads that water driveways, sidewalks and walls cause a water waste.

If you are planning on new landscaping or sprucing up your old landscaping, take the time to research what it is you want to accomplish. We recommend contacting a licensed Landscaping Company to assist you as they know what will flourish in the Las Vegas Desert.