In time, when things get built up around you, your dust problems will be much better. We used to live in the low dessert in Southern California and endured some pretty stiff dust storms. A drip system is great! We had one, and we grew wine grapes in our side yard. There are varieties that crave heat and wind. Touriga National is one. They do go dormant in winter. I was going to suggest a tree for you. Moringa Stenopetala. It's an edible tree but can grow very tall. It has a bulb like trunk that stores water, so it's drought resistant. Moringa Oleifera is in the same family and is more cold tolerant, but it grows fast and can be treated as an annual where it gets too cold. We no longer live in the low desert. We are close to the high desert, but in a micro-climate, and it rarely freezes here. We planted Moringa Oliefera last September, and the cold set them back a lot, but in March, they popped right back and one is over 7 feet tall now, loaded with blossoms and edible pods. Here is a link to the difference in the two. I find it a little conflicting, but it's really hot here and 2 of our trees are thriving. I got seeds on Ebay. We planted 6, but one part of the garden plot dirt is just bad, and we are finding nothing will grow there. Could be contaminated by a previous owner. We lost 2 trees, but they grow so fast, we don't really need six. It's just fun to go out and clip the leaves for a delicious, healthy salad. Plus they are pretty! I wish I had suggestions for your front yard. Olive and Fig trees grow well in the low desert, but probably not the high one. We had river rock down our side yards put in by the developer. You could lose your life on that stuff! We finally installed stepping flagstones to help. Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: Moringa Trees Compared

Great job! The next time you do this, it should go more easily since you'll know what to expect and be ready for it. As you discovered, being anxious to plant can cause more work and setbacks to your smothering efforts. I just started a new spot like this Monday. Drought killed the grass "sort of" in one spot in the front yard and it's never grown back, so I used newspaper - about 8-10 sheets thick, overlapping by at least 6", covered with mulch. I'm not going to dig into it until next year, just set potted annuals there for now, then a big pile of leaves in the fall. Also as you've discovered, without a barrier/border around the edges, separating grass from bed, it's an ongoing chore keeping the grass out of the bed. I'll use anything I can find for that, but try to stick to more attractive materials, like bricks, in the front yard. Just be glad you don't have bahiagrass!

It is not just WHAT a plant is that makes it valuable. WHERE it is contributes greatly to its value ... just like how a wheel and tire inflated and mounted on a car has a vastly greater value than a wheel and flat tire lying around the yard. Your most recent panorama illustrates a very UNwelcoming approach to the walk that goes to the front entrance from the drive. Unfortunately, trimming alone can't solve the problem. While I can't give it a positive ID, it seems that the 3rd tree in the island near the driveway is of a distinctly different character than the others, seriously negating its value as part of that group. Based on that it will always be in visual conflict, I would remove it. What remains is two that are badly positioned. It would be better -- quite nice actually -- to have a single 'Burford' at the center of the island. If this was my island, I would place the best 'Burford' there and find another spot for the other. But transplanting plants of this size is NOT without risks and especially for those without experience in doing it. While procedurally, it's easier than brain surgery, its not so easy to coach someone through the process by remote. (If you have the interest, skills to dig and manhandle heavy things, and willingness to get it done, I would give it a shot.) If the odd tree is a Ligustrum, they are not rare or particularly expensive, and they are fairly fast growing. You could try to relocate it elsewhere or give up on it without shedding any tears. The Ligustrum (the tree at the center of the house) may be worth transplanting, but it is large and again, a fair risk for one who is not familiar and skilled with the process. It's even hard to find people in the profession who can do this because it's an "old school" skill. Today, digging is done by machines. For the various shrubs scattered around the front of the house, I would consider them not worth the bother of moving. For the amount of work it is and the high risk of their not surviving, it doesn't seem worth it. New shrubs are not particularly expensive. They grow fast and can have a chance at being trained properly through their youth. Within 3 to 4 years you could have a nice, mature enough look ... with everything being in the right place! If you do want to relocate shrubs, I'd suggest moving them during the winter months, cutting their tops off completely (a few inches from the ground), and transplanting only the root ball. While you have to go for a short period without a top, it stands the best chance of surviving and thriving and gives you the opportunity to completely retrain the tops in a proper way according to your specs.

Nicholsworth, you're right. I prefer the more natural settings, where there's not so much contrived shaping of things and controlling them. It's weird because it's like two different houses here. The front yard is like what builders create for the short term and then walk away from, but the backyard (photo below), while still a little molded into a form, is much more layered and pretty, especially once everything is in leaf and blooms. I'll be working on replacing some of the more manicured plants in the back with more natural ones that fit the space without being constantly trimmed into submission. The goal in the front will be to work with what the builder has left us and make strategic changes, like Yardvaark suggested to bring about more balance and proper sizing for spaces. The shrubbery as a groundcover is counter-productive. It'll get there over time. I don't think we're going anywhere anytime soon. Thanks again for sharing your insights and photos. You're lucky to have such a peaceful place there.