Most people want a low-maintenance landscape. Why spend more time watering and fertilizing than you have to? If you live in a dry climate, though, designing a low-maintenance landscape means predominantly choosing plants that don't need a lot of water and can survive a long time without rain. Here are some top options that fit that description.

Bearded Iris

If you crave the look of bright, tall spring flowers like daffodils and tulips, bearded irises are a good dry-climate alternative. These flowers grow with tall stems and bright green leaves. The flowers themselves are yellow with large, irregular petals. Since bearded irises have rhizome roots that store water for long periods, they'll do just fine in a dry garden bed or when planted around a shady tree.

Lavender

If you're looking for a plant you can also put to use, include some lavender in your landscape design. Most species of lavender need very little water to thrive; they're almost as water-efficient as sedums. The bright purple flowers look lovely in a yard, and you can also pick the lavender to use in cooking or for aromatherapy. If you want lavender to get tall, leave it alone. If you want it to get bushy, trim it more often—it will spread out on its own.

Switch Grass

Decorative grass can add dimension to your landscaping design. People often use it to add height to the backs of their garden beds, or for a pop of something different in a corner. Most types of grass require a lot of water to thrive, but switch grass is a bit of an exception. It grows long, tall, and thick and can tolerate drought. The fine seed pods at the end of the grass make it look elegant.

Boxwoods

If you're looking for shrubs that will tolerate a dry climate, you can't go wrong with the classic boxwood. They are popular for a reason. They maintain their shape well, only need to be pruned occasionally, and will stay green and lush with very little water. While boxwoods are often used to create hedge rows, you can plant them individually and trim them into a rounder shape, if desired.

If your yard is dry, you can still design a low-maintenance landscape. It all comes down to picking the right plants. The four options above are all good choices and would be lovely together in a landscape design. 

For more info, contact a local landscaping contractor.