Location: Las Vegas

Hello, I recently planted the Jacaranda tree on the left along with the cactus barrels. I plan on removing the palo verde tree tomorrow and the random bushes and plants in the front yard. I plan on planting blue agave and other succulents. My question is, am I making the right decision by removing the palo verde tree? I feel it makes the house look smaller. Any tips to make my front yard stand out? Thank you

I don’t like the tree on my left if that is the one you planted. It hides the house and IMOis just too big for the space .plus the fact trees need lots of water when first planted .If you want a good landscape for where you live you need to visit a good garden center with a picture of your space.IMO barrel cactus grow 2 big over time and I think I would do succulents instead for a bit more green and eliminate the prickles from cactus so near a walkway.

Jacarandas are messy, messy, messy! Beautiful color but will get very tall and leggy and gnarly over time, lots of crap to sweep up, purple flowers getting tracked everywhere. No jacaranda, The Palo Verde is a fine choice for the size of that yard. Blue agave is dangerous, the spikes on the ends of it can seriously hurt or even kill someone. No agave.

The palo verde would have worked had it been placed farther left, closer to the property line, and then with having a goal to limb it up as it grows, so as to clear the view of the house. I'm no expert in southwestern desert plants, but the barrel cactus, I believe, get quite large. I think they are much too close to the walk, as well as being too many. Only lower plants -- the lowest plants -- or gravel mulch, should be next to the walk

The entrance looks very dark and creepy. I'd be finding a way to lighten it up ... painting white and probably installing some LED tape, too.

Thank you. What plants would you recommend I plant down the middle between the driveway and steps?

Also, where should I place the existing 7 cactus barrels? They were expensive and I’d hate to throw them out. I don’t mind moving them elsewhere though.

Actually barrel cacti grown taller not wider and will grow slowly. They will rarely get as wide as 16 inches; by the time that happens who knows where you'll live? Look up cacti information for the kind you bought. I think they look fine where they are and can be moved in 5 or 10 years if you want to.

Between drive and steps -- low, groundcover type plants with maybe something a little taller near the post. I don't know what grows in your location.

The Palo Verde is a fine tree for Las Vegas. The jacaranda is pretty but will take more care. It will get much larger if you water it a lot more than the Palo Verde tree. Keep it pruned and expect to lose branches in strong wind.

Check at the garden center to see what the label on the expensive barrel cactus says about height and width. Some get large, some don't.

Avoid the agave. Its sharp thorns are bad in a yard.

An easy way to select a group of succulents is to see what is in professionally planted gardens in your area. Upscale restaurants and small office buildings as well as model homes nearby are good places to look.