Our Philosophy

As our name indicates, EcoSense Sustainable Landscapes is dedicated to designing and installing resilient landscapes. Our designs consider the realities of climate change - using rainwater harvesting and native/arid-adapted plants - to restore disturbed soils and create beautiful and healthy ecosystems that thrive in the Sonoran Desert.

Climate Change is Real: Tucsonans are already seeing the effects of increased annual temperatures and decreased rainfall. Water rates are increasing while water supplies are decreasing. Water intensive, non-native plants that once thrived in the Tucson basin are now dead or in severe distress. The old ways of landscaping are no longer adequate, and, in many ways, they are detrimental to the overall health of the Tucson basin and its residents.

At EcoSense we see this threat as an opportunity, an opportunity to re-imagine what a healthy Tucson landscape should look like. The good news is that we don’t have to look far for inspiration! We are surrounded by an amazingly beautiful and diverse ecosystem. Rather than reinventing the wheel, we analyze the components that make these natural systems so resilient and implement them in our client’s yards and common spaces.

Rainwater As an Asset: On average, Tucson gets 11” of rainfall a year. In such a xeric climate it is incredibly important that our limited water is used as effectively as possible. That is why our #1 goal is to create a “zero run-off property.” Every drop of water that falls on your site should stay on your site and be used to support your landscape goals. We accomplish this primarily with passive rainwater harvesting basins. These basins collect, infiltrate, and store rainwater in the soil, where it can be accessed by our plants and used to build healthier soil. Read more about our Tucson rainwater harvesting services to learn how we can help you access this vast resource.

Growing Shade Is Fundamental: Getting shade in the right place is vital to the overall health and enjoyment of our landscapes. Our native Tucson basin trees increase nitrogen levels and break up compacted soils; provide food and habitat for wildlife; act as a screen for privacy, wind, noise, and dust; passively cool our homes and reduce energy bills; filter CO2 emissions; and create a nurse environment that other desert-adapted plants can thrive in. Not to mention they create a shady, serene, and inviting environment that draws us out of our homes and into our landscapes. And if all of that is not enough, mature shade trees can increase the resale value of your home by up to 15%. Coupling our native trees with passive rainwater harvesting techniques ensures accelerated growth rates while minimizing municipal water inputs.

Minimize Reliance on Irrigation: It isn’t hard to find someone with a horror story about their irrigation system - leaks costing hundreds-to-thousands of dollars, weekends spent chasing and repairing leaks, replacement systems that dig up and destroy entire landscapes - the list goes on and on. That is why EcoSense designs landscapes that do not rely on supplemental watering once established. We accomplish this with careful passive rainwater harvesting planning and water budgeting to ensure our landscapes can thrive on normal rainfall alone. We also use hardy succulents and targeted seed blends that don’t require irrigation for establishment.

Our Services