Plant choices and design principles can create gardens that don’t need any supplemental water
If you ’ve lived in the Mountain West for any time period of time , you know the importance of water . Throughout our winters , we look on snowpack totals roll up in our mountains , and during summertime we thirstily await the monsoon ; this affects drouth conditions . These drouth conditions in turn impact our natural environment and home landscape . An enormous amount of potable piddle is used to irrigate these landscape in our semi - desiccate climate , so it ’s no wonder that many of us have transitioned our gardens to xeriscapes .
What is xeriscaping?
The authors ofXeriscape Coloradodescribe xeriscaping as “ purposefully creating a beautiful , restful outdoor environs without consume M of congius of expensively purified water in the process . ” In short , xeriscapes require picayune to no irrigation to keep . However , xeriscape garden can be much more than just appeal of junipers ( Juniperusspp . and cvs . , Zones 2–9 ) , rocks , and cacti . They can be lush , full of color , and even admit small lawn .
Isn’t that just rock gardening?
There is by all odds some overlap between xeriscaping and rock horticulture , but xeriscape is more of an overall conception and doctrine to create a water system - heady landscape . Rock garden are a fussy type of gardening style featuring berms , rocks , and boulders of various sizes , and plant material that prosper in those conditions . Xeriscape garden and landscapes can admit rock garden . Rock gardens may be xeric , but not inevitably so — it would depend upon the plant material take .
7 key principles of xeriscaping
How would you go about incorporating this planting style into your garden ? There are a few central rule to keep in creative thinker .
1 . preparation and design . check how much clock time you want to spend maintaining the garden and how you will use the landscape . Next , create a base single-valued function of your landscape painting , which will be your templet for creating zones in your garden . These zones can be compose of hardscaping , flower beds , vegetables , lawn , or other constituent .
2 . ameliorate the stain . you could always get a soil test done , but at the very least incorporate several inch of compost or other constitutive matter . Quicker industrial plant ontogeny and beautiful blooms will be your wages . It is of import to note that some of our native and desert plants prefer gravelly territory over compost - rich soils . Be aware of this when choosing your industrial plant .
3 . Practical turf areas . tearing grass requires most of the urine used in landscapes . turn over if a patio would be more useful than a turf area or how big a yard your child really require . You may also need to await at nontraditional turf selections such as buffalo smoke or blue grama . These choice necessitate less urine than traditional turf but typically can not take heavy metrical unit traffic .
4 . take appropriate industrial plant for each location . There are many beautiful xeric flora to take from so that you’re able to have color all time of year . See the oddment of this clause for recommendations . Remember to group plants together that have similar water and light requirements . Put plant that need more water in low - lying areas or near a downspout , and put those that love blistering , ironic areas in hot , dry locations in your garden .
5 . lacrimation expeditiously . take convert your planting bed to drip irrigation to water more efficiently by assign the water now in the beginning geographical zone of each plant . grouping plants grant to water pauperization .
6 . Mulch . Mulch helps prevent weeds and minimizes water loss due to evaporation . Mrs. Henry Wood mulch should be applied 2 to 4 inch deep , and small rock or pea gravel can be apply 2 to 3 inches mystifying . Again , some works prefer mulch or rock and frailty versa , so be cognizant .
7 . Maintenance . A properly maintained garden aid keep the landscape beautiful and healthy .
For xeric plant good word , read on here :
To get a line more about xeriscaping , watch out these organizations , xeriscape garden , and other resources :
— Michelle Provaznik is executive director of the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins , Colorado .
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Xeric plantings rely on the right placement and soil type to get through the summer with little to no supplemental water.Photo: Michelle Provaznik
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Xeric plants and planting styles can be mixed with rock gardening hardscaping, but not all xeric plants thrive in rocky soils.Photo: Michelle Provaznik
Reconsider your traditional lawn to save water and reduce maintenance. There are many lawn-alternative seed mixtures on the market that fit different needs and lifestyles.Photo: Michelle Provaznik
Drip irrigation is a great way to deliver water where you need it to go without excess runoff and evaporation.Photo: Michelle Provanik
