Would you like drought tolerant outdoor landscaping ideas?  Cool green grass is the first choice for most homeowners.  Some areas are now putting limits on how much homeowners are allowed to water.  We should all be conscience of our water usage even when it isn’t being enforced.  The outdoor landscape ideas suggested below are all drought tolerant.

The first thing to do would be to get rid of the thirsty lawn in the front yard.  In its place have a woodland garden, hardscape or meadow.  An outdoor landscape plan for the front yard would be to greet your guests with a natural stone walkway.  Transform it into a woodland garden by making a path using slabs of basalt or sandstone.  The path leading to the front door becomes a destination in itself with interesting plantings dotting the stones.

The northern areas of the east and west have plant varieties that last all year around with little maintenance. An evergreen perennial such as the hellebores would be an elegant and colorful addition.  It is a buttercup varietal that can have up to 50 blossoms and will grow to 18 inches.

Those living in the southwest are not new to drought resistant outdoor landscaping ideas and commonly utilize their front yard as an additional patio area.  To add some interest they might use two different colors of gravel in their garden areas and plant drought loving cactus and succulents in differing colors, shapes and sizes.  Shade can be created by adding a pergola shading a cozy dining area.

The west is one of the biggest consumers of water that comes from other areas.  Low maintenance and outdoor landscape ideas that require very little water should be a top priority.  A couple of great plants that provide both color and aroma are rosemary and lavendar.  They don’t depend on water or human care to thrive.  Westerners should consider creating a focal point out of Mexican or concrete pavers and add a small water feature.  Setting out two small chairs and a table for a sweet area to enjoy a morning cup of coffee.  

A quick online search will produce tons of info on the type of plants will do well in your area with very little maintenance or water.  You can see photos of drought resistant flowers, shrubs, trees as well as fruits and vegetables. To save money buy four inch pots of the desired plants and place them approximately two feet apart.  You will be surprised at how fast they grow into lovely adult plants.