Xeriscaping Essentials
Xeriscaping is a landscaping style which requires little to no irrigation. Pronounced “zeer-i-scap-ing,” it’s a combination of the Greek words “xeros” meaning “dry,” and “scape” meaning “view.”
The concept was created (and trademarked) by Denver Water, the city of Denver’s water department, when Denver experienced a drought in the late 70s and early 80s.
To learn more about how to effectively xeriscape in your backyard, visit Pioneer Landscape Centers. We look forward to helping you with any questions regarding landscaping supplies and materials.
XERISCAPING BASICS
The Xeriscaping philosophy is to use many native and drought resistant plants and arrange them in ways that save even more water. The ability to use native plants gives the gardener a wide variety of planting options, allowing them to make their Xeriscaped lawn as attractive and colorful as a traditional one.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT XERISCAPING
Despite its popularity, many people don’t know what Xeriscaping is. Some people make the mistake of calling it “Zero-scaping,” thinking it means using no water at all. Other people carry negative perceptions of the practice, imagining only barren, rocky landscapes with a few cacti and tumbleweeds. In reality, Xeriscaping can be quite versatile.
EFFECTIVENESS OF XERISCAPING
Denver Water claims that Xeriscaping can reduce water use for landscapes by 60 percent or more. Xeriscaping is not only effective in saving water; it saves you money as well. Even while considering that it costs more to plan and convert an existing landscape into a Xeriscaped one, it more than pays for itself in the money you save in operational costs. For example: if you spent $14,000 to convert your landscape, you would save $6,000 a year in water, making up the cost in about two years and saving you a lot more in the long run.
THE 7 ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF XERISCAPING
There are seven essential principles to Xeriscaping: appropriate planning and design, practical turf areas, plant selection, soil improvement, watering, use of mulch, and maintenance.
1. PLANNING AND DESIGN
First, designers draw a base plan, which is an outline of the landscape drawn to scale. It includes the house, driveway, and any plants that are already there. Over a copy of the base plan, they draw a bubble diagram. This is where they write descriptive notes about areas that need Xeriscaping, like which plants they need to get rid of, what plants will replace them, and how they will redesign the area overall. The bubble diagram will then be used to define the final landscape plan, which clearly defines the Xeriscape project.
2. PRACTICAL TURF AREAS
Grass lawns take a lot of water to maintain – this doesn’t mean you can’t have any grass in your Xeriscaped yard, it just means you have to use it strategically. A designer will consider where grass will be most useful and enhance the landscape and won’t physically or visually take away from other plant life. Walkways can be paved or covered in gravel, for instance, since grass is easily trampled by foot traffic.
3. PLANT SELECTION
Most people feel that choosing the right plants is the most important part of Xeriscaping, as plants define the landscape. Keep in mind that the location and grouping of plants greatly affect the amount of water that is required.
4. SOIL IMPROVEMENT
Proper soil preparation will
a) Keep plants cool
b) Reduce evaporation
c) Retain excess moisture
The three basic types of soil are sand, silt, and clay; silt works best for Xeriscaping, as it retains the perfect balance of moisture.
5. WATERING
It is important to know how much water your plants need. Eventually, most might be able to live on rainwater alone, but some may still require minimal additional watering. Also, “plants may need just as much water as [a] regular landscape during initial conversion while they establish a root system.” If a plant appears to be sitting too loosely in the ground, it needs more water. You can provide efficient irrigation with an automatic sprinkler system.
6. USE OF MULCH
Mulch is an important addition to your Xeriscaped garden for two reasons: it keeps roots cool and it minimizes water evaporation. There are two kinds of mulch.
a. Organic Mulch
Wood-based mulch includes bark mulch, cedar mulch, and pine peelings.
Pros: It keeps landscapes cool and it adds complementary color to your landscape.
Cons: It needs to be replaced regularly to keep away rot.
b. Inorganic Mulch
Stone-based mulch includes cobblestone and lava rock.
Pros: The rocks don’t need to be replaced.
Cons: The rocks absorb heat from the sun and evaporate moisture from your plants, so they can only be used in shady places.
7. MAINTENANCE
Maintenance with Xeriscaping is generally easier – you don’t have to water as much, and foliage grows more slowly. Still, typical plant grooming is recommended.
LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES
Pioneer Landscape Centers has all the materials you need to Xeriscape your garden. Visit us online to view our collections. To learn more about our landscaping materials including decorative rock and landscaping gravel, view our collections page.