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Landscape Design Arizona Gardening

Landscaping with a twist

Prince Leftridge II

2 years ago

Since I am looking at a new build, one of the things that I am examining closely is the landscape. However, there are two twists involved. The first one is for security landscaping which involves multiple thorny plants (e.g. bougenvillas) and the second involves plants that repel animals and various insects (e.g. mint, lavender, lemongrass). Can anyone give me some tips as I research?

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Comments (6)

Christopher CNC
2 years ago
The Fortress Garden is something to ponder. Bougainvillea speaks of the tropics. Location and climate matter for plant choices, so handover the general location. (I just saw Arizona. that's a good clue.) Not good enough.

There are a lot of plants and a lot of bugs and varmints that use them. Even with this subject it helps to know what exactly you are trying to repel. Different varmints have different tastes.

Are there any good botanical gardens near you? Winter I bet would be the optimum time for a visit. Go for a relaxing stroll. Take names.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
In Arizona, I would think that a variety of local cacti and large, spiky succulents would work well as barrier or security plantings. There seems to be no shortage at what you might choose - Arizona Cactus Sales carries a bucketload of choices!! And I agree about any considered repellant plants. Different plants work at different purposes in this regard so you need to be specific about what you are trying to repel.
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back in the day ... pre WWW [which loosely translates to limited information available] .. in the hosta world.. i went thru this ... i finally realized... i was a name collector .. that when it all boiled down ... there was not much difference between the lot.. in a circumstance like this .... which was supported by most cultivars.. having never been grown to maturity ... and all the verbage being little more than speculation.. based on the history of the parent ... if known .... or observation of plants growing in pots .. hyper-fertlized to the extreme ... i started to do the same with conifers.. collecting every blue p parv i could find.. being a blue freak and all ... and now 13 odd years later.. catalog info long forgotten.. i have 6 to 8 blue parvs.. that all look the same ... not much better than 'glauca' lookalikes ..... TO MY EYE .... pick one ... and enjoy it ... but dont waste your money on two.. as all you might end up with is a duplicate ... or until you can see.. with your own eyes.. a difference.. at maturity ... and of course.. i am not at the level of a joy.. or fincham .... so as to define minute differences .... all the power to them ... but for 99% of us ... the differences are nil .... i hope.. but doubt.. this was helpful ... lol ... at your end of the learning curve .... ken
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
Few plants repel insects just by being there. Many aromatics are unpalatable if eaten but I’m afraid plants like mint or lavender don’t repel bugs at a distance.
linaria_gw
2 years ago
i would second floral on that:

insect repelling plants that could keep you unbothered do not really exist,

I mean, doing that just by growing there...

most of the "tipps and tricks" are overblown internet-clickbait-saga-lore

do you know which insect species are a problem?

an re "secutity landscape" keep in mind that at some point in the garden development you need to prune all the stuff growing in your garden.

and that can be extremly bothersome if you have really prickely stuff.

who do you want to keep away with the thorny stuff anyway?

deer, humans?
nandina
2 years ago
If you really need a 'secure' property' then I assume your architect has included all the new electronics available into the house and surrounds. I will mention here that the most secure house design for this purpose is to construct the building in a square shape which encloses a major landscaped interior patio area where all family activites take place.....swimming pool, gardens, etc.

Thanks to a request I will pass on a suggestion which should work well in the Arizona landscape. I was asked to spread a heavy cover of gravel over the remaining yard because it made it difficult for an intruder to enter the property quietly. This idea would provide a 'clean' palette upon which to place your thorny shrubs.
Christopher CNC
2 years ago
A secure house design and well-sealed construction - cause bugs - is the first line of defense and more effective than thorns I would think. A walled Fortress Garden could be very well done.

Strewing herbs to repel insects were of common use in castles back in the day. That is a topic you could research. Cause bugs.

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