HI there! I am new to this forum. My situation is this: elevation 5900 ft, juniper/pinon extensively; here and there, artemisia species, and little else. The land is very, verrrrrryyyy sandy---no clay or mineralization around here. Summers are dry and hot---winters can get to zero F., though rarely. Usually lots of sun, and winds tend to come from the south---southwest--once in awhile west. We are gradually amending the soil with manure, composting, etc. However, we need to create barriers to diminish the windblown sand from encroaching. What can help that will not require a lot of water? I suspect the junipers take a lot, but they afford shade and privacy---a retreat, as it were. Thoughts?
How about Sedum and Sempervivum - they love sandy soil. Not sure how they would like having sand actually blowing on top of them, but the larger ones, like Sedum telephium and spectabile could withstand that.