High desert mulching is a challenge for both beginners and experienced gardeners. The soil is barren, there is no natural source of moisture and the extreme fluctuations in heat and cold put many traditional plants under the influence of "clear weather".

However, for gardeners who want to invest more time and effort, desert landscaping can be more than just pebbles and cacti. For starters, consider choosing a land cover and personal favorite, Periwinkle, botanically known as Vinca Major, Large Periwinkle, and Vinca Minor, Small Periwinkle. Vinca minor, the little periwinkle, is a drought tolerant species, so it is best suited to low humidity environments.

The benefits of evergreens for desert landscaping are numerous:

First, there is the small variety of Vinca that is suitable for almost all US climate zones from Zone 3 to Zone 9.

Second, vinca grows quickly after the slender stems, which grow to be 3 to 6 feet long and stay low to the ground, often take root where they touch the ground so you can spread the plant (in pots or bare roots) 10"-14" in distance. .

Third, they can handle light traffic well and are ideal for less-used spaces.

Fourth, they are evergreen, providing friendly green all year round when other plants and grasses are dormant or dead.

Fifth, Vinca, once established, requires almost no maintenance - no mowing, no pruning, maybe extra watering in extreme heat (depending on species and climate zone) and some random control, like most fast growing species they don't know what is the limit you are assigned to them!

Sixth, the plant tolerates a lot of soil, even heavy clay, although clay (the same mixture of sand, dust, and clay) provides the strongest growth as most plants. After all, the periwinkle is beautiful. In addition to the subtle green, egg-shaped leaves trimmed to white in some species, the periwinkle creates a beautiful subtle coloration of five purple, white, or pink petals, depending on the species.

Can your easy-to-maintain lawn or your gravel or mulch cover offer your desert landscape theme as many advantages as little Vinca? Time to borrow a place and plan it!