Xeriscaping Totally Explained

Everything about Xeriscape totally explained

Xeriscaping refers to landscaping in ways that don't require supplemental irrigation. It is promoted in areas that don't have easily accessible supplies of fresh water, and is catching on in other areas as climate patterns shift.
   The word Xeriscaping was coined by combining xeros (Greek for "dry") with landscape.
   Plants whose natural requirements are appropriate to the local climate are emphasized, and care is taken to avoid losing water to evaporation and run-off. Xeriscape^TM and the xeriscape logo are registered trademarks of Denver Water, the water department of Denver, Colorado. They were created by the Front Range Xeriscape Task Force of Denver Department in 1978. Plants used in xeriscaping depend upon the climate. Some common plants used in Western xeriscaping are agave, cactus, lavender, juniper, sedum and thyme.
   In some areas, terms such as water-conserving landscapes, drought-tolerant landscaping, zeroscaping, and smart scaping are used instead.

Implementation

There are seven basic principles of xeriscaping:
1) Waterwise Planning and Design. Also termed hydrozoning, this involves grouping plants with similar watering requirements together. Plants that require more water (for example, vegetables, fruits, and certain flowers) are grouped together. These less water-efficient plants may also be sheltered from the wind and/or sun by planting them in the shade (under trees, beside a house etc.) to decrease the amount of water they need. Also place high water users nearer the home in an "oasis" area where they're more fully enjoyed. 2) Drought Tolerant Plants.
Appropriate choice and arrangement of a plant (or plants) - where possible, plants that are native to the area or to similar climates, as well as other plants that tolerate or avoid water stress (succulents, xeriphytes, halophytes, summer or winter dormant bulbs, very deeply rooted plants) as ornamentals. 3) Appropriate Size Turf Areas. Smaller lawn, and only where it'll be used by the family. Use drought-tolerant turf-grass species where turf is needed at all (children's play areas) (pet use areas). The landscape can be filled in with borders and islands of more water-efficient ornamental plants. 4) Harvest Water Where Possible. Incorporate water harvesting techniques into your design. Channel runoff water to planted areas or contain it for later use. Mounds or berms at the edge of the property can help hold the water on your land. Locate high water users where they can take advantage of the extra water. 5) Efficient Irrigation Equipment and Design. Apply water efficiently via drip irrigation or soaker hoses where possible. Overhead irrigation (never ideal) is applied in the morning or evening, when it's less likely to be blown away by wind or lost by evaporation. Drought-tolerant plants get no more water than they need to look good, and of course water isn't allowed to splash onto concrete walkways or other areas where it isn't needed. 6) Mulch & Soil Amendments.
A layer of mulch aids in conservation of water in the soil as it cools the soil surface and hinders evaporation. Adding amendments to the soil as you plant improves your soil. Soil with improved structure retains water better. 7) Proper Maintenance Practices. Proper maintenance practices will reduce water use.

In general, prune minimally. Topiary pruning is to be avoided at all costs as it increases water use and stresses plants.
Fertilize only enough for plant health, and ideally use a slow release fertilizer.
Aerate and dethatch your lawn once a year to improve infiltration and reduce runoff.
Remove weeds as they use valuable water.
Maintain your irrigation system in good working order, and change your water cycles with the season.

Advantages

Lower water bills.

More water available for other uses and other people (such as showers, sinks, hoses etc).

Less time and work needed for maintenance, making gardening more simple and stress-free.

Little or no lawn mowing (which saves gas).

Xeriscape plants along with proper bed design tends to take full advantage of rainfall.

When water restrictions are implemented, xeriscape plants will tend to survive, while more traditional plants may not.

Increased habitat for native bees, butterflies, and other fauna.

Can live in more habitats than most other plants.

Disadvantages

May require more start-up work to prepare beds for planting than simply laying sod.

Some homeowners' associations may object to non-traditional plants. However, some states, such as Florida, include law, as it pertains to Homeowner's Associations, that make it unlawful to include a clause prohibiting "property owner from implementing Xeriscape or Florida-friendly landscape, as defined in s. 373.185(1), on his or her land." in Homeowner Association documents, (Ref: 720.3075.4 Prohibited clauses in association documents). In 2007, Arizona inacted similar laws.

Requires that people moving from water-abundant to water-scarce areas change their mindset as to what types of plants they're able to practically and economically maintain.

Xeriscape beds require periodic maintenance which is more involved than simply mowing and edging, especially to maintain color. Weeds and trash may also be more of a problem than in a traditional lawn.Further Information

Get more info on 'Xeriscape'.

External Link Exchanges

Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:

<a href="http://xeriscaping.totallyexplained.com">Xeriscaping Totally Explained</a>

Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned.