DIY & Home Improvement

bermuda will do fine in the heat but if you don't have it there already why start? lay some landscape fabric and get a few loads of gravel, a few heat hardy bushes/trees. I can't imagine starting a big lawn project in Yuma at this time of year. too hot outside!

other than purposely adding a hard to get rid of, water intensive grass instead of easy care gravel or other cover it sounds like you are leaning to number 5, and that sounds best to me too.