Things You'll Need:
- List of plants native to your area
- A few resource guidelines from books or the Internet
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Step 1
Use native plants with low water requirements. The basic plan will become the guide for plant selection by location, height, color, and blooming season. Generate ideas from existing xeriscape gardens for your final plan. Many city water departments promote xeriscape gardens at their facilities. Most plantings in these gardens have identification tags on plants to help visitors recognize species. Also, check your local garden extension program for suggestions.
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Step 2
Use mulch. After improving the soil and making proper plant selections, mulch is the next most important step in establishing a xeriscape garden. Mulch provides cover until plants mature and fill in open spaces. It acts like a blanket over the soil, reducing water evaporation from the soil surface. Because the mulch blocks sunlight, it prevents weed growth but still allows air and water circulation. Almost anything can be used as mulch. Straw, newspapers and rocks (small or crushed) can be used.
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Step 3
Once the garden is planted, most maintenance time, energy and money will be spent on watering. Irrigation can be reduced with the selection of drought tolerant plants and grasses, and by clumping plants according to their water needs.
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Step 4
Insect pests or plant diseases usually pose few problems in the xeriscape garden. By selecting hardy, native species, part of the general disease and pest problem will be eliminated. Another way to help control pests is to allow adequate space between plants for air circulation and penetration of sunlight.
