Xeriscape
by Greg Seaman

Xeriscape Benefits
7 Principles of Xeriscaping
Drought-Resistant Plantings
Tips, Resources
Other Lawn Alternatives
Xeriscaping refers to the conservation of
water through creative landscaping.

Originally developed for drought-afflicted areas, the principles of xeriscape today have an ever broadening appeal. With water now considered an expensive and limited resource, all landscaping projects, residential or commercial, can benefit from this alternative.
Xeriscapes do not have a single look - almost any landscaping style can be achieved. The principles can be applied to all or part of a yard, in any geographic region of North America.
Xeriscape Benefits
Saves Water. For most of North America, over 50% of residential water used is applied to landscape and lawns. Xeriscape can reduce landscape water use by 50 - 75%.
Less Maintenance. Aside from occasional pruning and weeding, maintenance is minimal. Watering requirements are low, and can be met with simple irrigation systems.
No Fertilizers or Pesticides. Using plants native to your area will eliminate the need for chemical supplements. Sufficient nutrients are provided by healthy organic soil.
Improves Property Value. A good Xeriscape can raise property values which more than offset the cost of installation. Protect your landscaping investment by drought-proofing it.
Pollution Free. Fossil fuel consumption from gas mowers is minimized or eliminated with minimal turf areas. Small turf areas can be maintained with a reel mower.
Provides Wildlife Habitat. Use of native plants, shrubs and trees offer a familiar and varied habitat for local wildlife.
 
The 7 Principles of Xeriscaping
1. The fundamental element of Xeriscape design is water conservation. Landscape designers constantly look for ways to reduce the amount of applied water and to maximize the use of natural precipitation.

Before setting pencil to paper, familiarize yourself with the 7 Principles of Xeriscaping and take a tour of your local nurseries to see what drought-resistant plantings are available locally. Using graph paper, draw an aerial view of your property and begin your plan with the following considerations:
  •  ~ orient the plot by marking down north, south, east and west. Include any limiting features such as trees, fences, walkways or structures. Note areas of sun and shade, which will help you establish zones of differing water needs. You'll want to group plants with similar watering needs for most efficient water use.

  •  ~ study the natural contours and drainage patterns of the land. These countours can be easily developed into terraces, which add visual interest and help reduce soil loss and erosion due to rain or irrigation. Terraces can be as little as 3" and still offer visual appeal; terraces over 12" will require considerable support, such as rock walls or timbers reinforced with steel stakes.

  • ~ consider the planned use of each area within the plot. Areas for seating, walkways, visual barriers, dining or play should be defined and incorporated into your plan.

  • ~ areas to be left as turf should be designed to be easily mowed. Curved swaths are usually better than straight runs with sharp turns. Narrow swaths can be difficult to water with conventional sprinklers.

  • ~ larger plantings, such as shrubs and trees, can be positioned to provide natural heating and cooling opportunities for adjacent buildings.
2. Soil Improvement
The ideal soil in a water-conserving landscape does two things simultaneously: it drains quickly and stores water at the same time. This is achieved by increasing the amount of organic material in your soil and keeping it well aerated. Compost is the ideal organic additive, unless your xeriscape contains many succulents and cacti. These species prefer lean soil.
It may be worthwhile to have your soil tested at a garden center or by using a home test kit. Most Western soils tend to be alkaline (high pH) and low in phosphorous. Adding bonemeal and rock phosphate will help.

3. Create Limited Turf Areas
Reduce the size of turf areas as much as possible, while retaining some turf for open space, functionality and visual appeal. When planting new turf, or reseeding existing lawns, ask at your garden center for water-saving species adapted to your area.

4. Use Appropriate Plants
For best results, select plants that are native to your region.
  • ~ use drought-resistant plants. In general, these plants have leaves which are small, thick, glossy, silver-grey or fuzzy - all characteristics which help them save water.

  • ~ select plants for their ultimate size. This reduces pruning maintenance.

  • ~ for hot, dry areas with south and west exposure, use plants which need only a minimum of water. Along north and east-facing slopes and walls, choose plants that like more moisture. Most importantly, don't mix plants with high- and low-watering needs in the same planting area.

  • ~ trees help to reduce evaporation by blocking wind and shading the soil.

5. Mulch
Cover the soil's surface around plants with a mulch, such as leaves, coarse compost, pine needles, wood chips, bark or gravel. Mulch helps retain soil moisture and temperature, prevent erosion and block out competing weeds. Organic mulch will slowly incorporate with the soil, and will need more applied, "top-dressed", from time to time. To be effective, mulch needs to be several inches thick. There should be no areas of bare soil.

6. Irrigate
Water conservation is the goal, so avoid overwatering. Soaker hoses and drip-irrigation systems offer the easiest and most efficient watering for xeriscapes because they deliver water directly to the base of the plant. This reduces moisture loss from evaporation. They also deliver the water at a slow rate which encourages root absorption and reduces pooling and erosion. In general, it's best to water deeply and less frequently.

7. Maintain your landscape
Low-maintenance is one of the benefits of xeriscape. Keeping the weeds from growing up through the mulch may require some attention. Thickening the layer of mulch will help. Turf areas should not be cut too short - taller grass is a natural mulch which shades the roots and helps retain moisture. Avoid overfertilizing.
 
Drought-Resistant Plantings
Here are some popular xeriscape plantings; this listing is by no means complete. Consult with your local garden center for recommended local (native) varieties.
Flowers
Perennials
Arizona columbine
Artemisias
Asters
Baby's Breath
Blue pineleaf beardtongue
Columbine
Coreopsis
Delphinium
Echinacea
Gaillardia
Gayfeather
Iris
Lamb's Ears
Lavender		 Pansy
Perennial Flax
Poppy Mallow
Purple Coneflower
Red Valerian
Sages
Scarlet hedgenettle
Sedums
Statice
Sweet William
Texas hummingbird mint
Tulips and crocuses
Yarrow
Yellow Black-eyed Susan
Yucca 		Annuals
Cosmos
Desert Dragon
Desert PeaGanzania
Marigold
Mexican Sunflower
Pentas New Look
Phlox
Portulacca Sundial
Red Plume Blanket
Rose Campion
Santolina
Statice
Vinca Passion
Zinnias
Before planting flowers, improve the soil to foster root growth. Most perennials and annuals require full sun; only a few will flower in partial shade. Most flowers do poorly in heavy clay, due to lack of oxygen to their roots. Sandy soils may have poor water-holding capacity and be low in available minerals. If either extreme is true in your yard, do not plant perennial flowers the first year or two. Improve the soil with sphagnum peat or compost until the soil is easily worked and does not compact. Perennial flowers may then be planted.
Shrubs and Trees
Shrubs
Smoke tree
Washington hawthorne
Japanese black pine
Cinquefoil
Fragrant zumac
Mountain currant
Sassafras
Honeysuckle
Witch hazel
Rugosa roses
Bayberry 		Snowberry
Spirea
California lilac
Heather

Trees
Acacia
Aralia
Bottle Tree
Gray Birch
Common Pater Mulberry
European Hackberry
Carob

 Monterey Cypress
Eucalyptus
Fig
Juniper
Osage Orange
Chinaberry
Common Olive
White Poplar
Black Locust
Siberian Elm
Gray Dogwood
Amur Maple
Succulents
Succulents (leaf color)
Aconium arborium - green
Cotyledon orbiculata -gray- green, red-edged
Crassula argentea - 'Sunset', yellow, tinged red
C. 'Campfire' - green, turns orange-red with maturity
Dudleya brittonii - chalky blue
Echeveria agavoides 'RubyLips'
- green, tips reddish brown
Kalanchoe pumila - lavender
Sedum adolphii - orange,bronze
S. rubrotinctum 'Aurora' - pink to bronze
Sempervivum tectorum - gray green, tipped reddish brown Senecio serpens - blue-gray
S. mandraliscae - blue-gray
Tips for Growing Succulents:
• Provide good drainage. Well-aerated, unscreened gritty soil works best for succulents.
• Water more often in hot weather. Although succulents can tolerate neglect, they will look better when well-watered during the hottest weather.
• Choose plants which match your climate. Consult your local garden center for plants which favor your growing environment; damp coastal, cooler mountain or hotter desert climates.
• Use fertilizers sparingly. Fertilizing once or twice a year is usually adequate. 		Succulents (flower color)
Aconium floribundum - yellow
Aloe aristata - orange-red
A.saponaria - orange to pink
A. vera - yellow
Bulbine cuulescens - lemon
Crassula falcata - deep red
C. multicava - pink
Delosperma cooperi - purple
D. nubigenum - golden yellow
Echeveria elegans - pink
E. imbricata - orange-red
E. pulvinata - red
E. Set-oliver - red and yellow
Kalanchoe pumila - lavender
Lampranthus productus - purple
L. aurantiacus - orange
L. spectabilis - pink, red, purple
Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are drought-resistant and low maintenance. When choosing ornamental grasses for your yard, consider the characteristics of each variety. They are categorized as:
Cool-season grasses grow best at temperatures ranging from 15 to 24 degrees centigrade ( 59 to 75 degrees farenheit ). New growth starts as soon as temperatures rise above freezing in spring, in temperate climate zones. Growth slows and flowers bloom by early summer.

Warm-season grasses prefer temperatures ranging from 26 to 35 degrees C ( 78 to 95 degrees F). New growth begins after the soil warms up to 16 degreesC. Growth slows and flowers starrt to bloom by mid-summer, and continuing through fall.

Running-growth habit: Ranging from slow creepers to agressive spreaders, running grasses are useful for erosion control on slopes or as ground cover.

Clumping-growth habit: These grasses grow in tufts. They make fine specimens and are also effective planted in groups or masses. Most ornamental grasses commonly used in gardens today are clump-forming.
Tips for Growing Ornamental Grasses:
• Sunny spot. Most grasses prefer a sunny area, especially the more brightly colored varieties.
• Water new plantings. Drought-resistant grasses still require watering while getting established.
• Space generously. When planting, allow room between clumps for movement.
• Trim. Clump grasses can be cut back with a shears each spring to allow for fresh new growth. Grasses which turn brown in winter (deciduous) can be cut back to a few inches of the ground. Evergreen grasses, however, should not be cut back too drastically.
• Divide. Clump grasses may need to be divided if they get too big or have die-back in the center of the clump. Use a pointed spade (or a hand trowel for smaller clumps) to cut larger divisions; pull apart by hand into smaller sections. Be sure to water replanted divisions.
 
Xeriscape Tips
  • Check your local ordinances for landscape bylaws before starting. Some communities also have restrictions on turf grass plantings.
  • For best results with drought-resistant plantings, use regionally-specific, native plants. Exotic species can be extremely invasive and can spread into natural ecosystems by birds and other wildlife.
  • Find out what the annual natural precipitation is for your region, and how that precipitation is spread throughout the year. This will help you select plantings.
  • Windbreaks help keep the plants and soil from blowing dry. Use trees, hedges, shrubs or tall ornamental grasses as natural windbreaks.
  • Avoid watering during the hottest, windiest time of day. Early morning is usually best.
  • How much to water? Your plants should begin to wilt during the hottest part of the day, yet perk up as soon as it starts to cool.
  • Minimize the number of young plants. New plants need water more often than mature plants, which have deeper root systems. They also require more pruning.
  • Keep faded flowers picked or clipped off to prolong blooming time.
  • Practice "cycle" irrigation on turf areas. This refers to watering just to the point of seeing runoff, then pausing to allow the turf to absorb the water. Resume watering when needed.
  • For related information, see our pages on drip-irrigation, lawn care and lawn alternatives.
 

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