Landscaping & Gardening Information | home | site map | contact us |
Xeriscaping is Waterwise Gardening
What is xeriscaping? You may have heard of xeriscaping as a way of landscaping in the Southwestern United States. You may picture xeriscaping as a lot of gray gravel and cactus in a hot desert yard. People call that "zero-scaping," and that is not what xeriscaping is. Xeriscaping is a method of gardening and landscaping that will reduce your water use and maintenance requirements by as much as 60 percent. Xeriscaping can be done anywhere by any gardener, and in any yard, with the result being a beautiful, even lush, landscape. The word "xeriscape" was coined in the early 1980's by the Denver Water Board when creating their water conservation program. Denver Water trademarked the word in 1983. It comes from combining xeros (Greek for "dry") with landscaping. Thus, it is a water-conservative approach to landscaping. Plants whose growing requirements are appropriate to the local climate are emphasized, and care is taken to avoid wasting water to evaporation and run-off. There are seven established xeriscaping principles. Applying these principles will help you achieve a beautiful landscape that will save you water and work in the long run. Principle One - Planning and Designing When you take the first step towards xeriscaping you must do your research and plan and design on paper first. You can convert your traditional landscape to a xeriscape in steps lasting several years. There are books on the market devoted to waterwise gardening and xeriscaping that you will want to consult. Principle Two - Soil Improvements As with a traditional landscape you will probably need to test and improve your soil. Add compost and other amendments in areas where you will be planting. This will help your soil retain moisture. Principle Three - Appropriate Turf areas Lawns can use four times as much water as anything else in your landscape. They also require mowing, fertilizing, weeding and other such maintenance. Xeriscaping calls for limited turf areas. You might not want any turf at all in your landscape or you may want just want an oasis where the children can play on a swingset. Principle Four - Pick Water-thrifty Plants Choose plants that require less water. This includes flowers, ground covers, trees and shrubs. And, group together plants that have the same water requirements. Using plants that are drought-tolerant and native to your area will also require less water and maintenance. Principle Five - Efficient Irrigation Efficient watering means using devices and practices that do not waste water. Installing underground sprinkling systems, drip irrigation systems, soaker hoses, timers and the like are all watersavers when used correctly. Principle Six - Mulching There are many types of mulch that can be used instead of ugly gray gravel. Actually rocks, and gravel do come in so many sizes and colors that they can be attractive when used artistically. The reason you use mulch is to reduce moisture loss through evaporation and to inhibit the growth of weeds. Organic mulches such as compost, bark, peat moss, and pine needles can also contribute to the soil as they breakdown. Principle Seven - Appropriate Maintenance The final principle is properly maintaining your xeriscape. This means keeping your watering systems in working order and watering only when needed. Keep your weeds in check and reapply mulch if it breaks down. Now that you have had a brief introduction to xeriscaping maybe you can think of how it can be applied to your landscape. Do you really need that sweeping green lawn in your front yard? Imagine how a large colorful bed full of day lilies could be a real showstopper on your block. It would break up all that water-thirsty lawn and save you water and lawn maintenance for years to come. Now, that doesn't sound like a desert landscape does it? No, it doesn't, and it could be the start of your conversion to xeriscape gardening. Article by Amy Passmore for TheGardeningGuide.com This article may be reprinted and freely distributed as long as it is not changed and the author's name and a "live" link to the website accompanies the article.
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting |
RELATED ARTICLES
Care of Dendrobium Orchids DendrobiumsThis month I am focusing our attention to the care of Dendrobiums. These are one of the most popular of retail orchid plants. The Many Types of Palm Trees There are thousands of species of Palm Trees. They are considered to be tropical in nature, but most people are not aware that cold hardy palms may be planted outside without any visible damage from temperatures as cold as -20°F. How to Find and Work With a Porch Swing Contractor To Install the Porch Swing of Your Dreams You've found a great Porch Swing and you know exactly where you want to put it, and it's not on the Porch. If you're a Do-it-Yourselfer, no problem. Patio Design - Expanding Your Home Outdoors A patio can be just like another room in your house. Effective patio design can mean that your increase the floor space of your home, by adding an outside room that allows you to entertain like never before. Using Bulbs in Your Landscaping Naturalized bulbs look beautiful in a wooded setting. You can plant them and leave them to multiply. The Advantages of Silk Flowers The silk flower is growing in popularity among young couples and families for many different reasons. Many event hosts or planners struggle over whether to choose fresh flowers or artificial flowers. Metal Garden Furniture Since Victorian times metal garden furniture has become a popular way to decorate gardens. In fact, since this furniture can easily last for many years with the proper maintenance, some people are still using pieces in their gardens that were made in the Victorian era. CO2 for Free We've all heard that there is no such thing as a 'free lunch'; well the process described in this article may be as close to one as you get. Most of us already know the benefits of CO2 enrichment for photosynthesis. Sleeping Beauties: Porches For Dreaming There's something magical about sleeping outside, drinking in the night sounds of crickets, frogs and wind chimes, watching fireflies and stars, and feeling the cool night breeze. You'll find children giggling long past their bedtime from sheer excitement. 10 Free Gardening Products One of the pleasurable spin-offs in organic gardening is finding alternative ways of coming up with the same, if not better, end result.. Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 2) Plant Needs THE BASICS OF HYDROPONICS.What Do Your Plants Need?All plants need the correct conditions in order to grow to their full potential. Storm Warnings For Ponds California has earthquakes; we in the south and east coast have hurricanes. One thing we all share is power outages. Light Up Your Garden And Brighten Your Life Extending Your Living SpaceThe garden is fast being considered to be an extension to your living space and homeowners are putting as much effort into creating a harmonious environment outside as they are inside. A beautiful garden is also considered to be one of the biggest selling features of a home and can certainly help to add value and appeal. Low Maintenance Teak Furniture In all likelihood you have heard of teak furniture and have wanted to know why it's such a big deal. This article contains some simple info regarding the building material that seems a little mysterious, even has a weird sound to it, but dominates the market of outdoor furniture. Growing Great Potatoes Potatoes are so easy to grow in the no dig, organic way. They are one of the top three in vegetable growing due to their popularity and versatility. Manage Algae There are several different ways to manage algae in your backyard pond. The best way however is when you have several different things all working together in harmony that will best take care of any algae problems you may have. Furniture Benches Are Perfect For Every Outdoor Space The task of selecting outdoor furniture for your natural spaces can seem daunting at times. There are just so many options to choose from that many people get confused browsing through the large collections that can be found in catalogues, stores and even online. Choosing the Right Roses for your Garden There are literally hundreds of types of roses that you can grow in your garden. With such a selection to choose from, it can be extremely difficult to choose the rose that's right for you. 5 Simple Steps To Dividing Your Hardy Water Lilies If you missed the springtime window of opportunity to divide your hardywater lilies, don't worry, it's not too late. Although springtime isthe best time, you've actually got the entire normal growing season toget it done. Maintaining Oxygen Levels in Fish and KOI Ponds Severe environmental stressors are the most frequent causes of sudden fish death in garden ponds or other fish habitats, and the lack of oxygen in the water is the number 1 stressor of all.Two major factors contributing to fish-pond oxygen loss concern blooming algae. |
home | site map | contact us |