How to Create Xeriscape Landscaping

This spring, I will go VERY GREEN in the gardening and lawn care of my home,as I will be my first attempt at xeriscaping, which will developing gardens, and landscape that requires minimal watering. There's some planning involved in this project, but this is NOT a pricey change.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a desire to conserve water

1. Start thinking of your lawn, as turf that can exist with minimal watering. This may mean that
   you need to plant Buffalo Grass or Zoysia grass. This is practical only if you have manageable areas that need re seeding.

2. Manage your soil effectively, by adding manure, compost, leaf mold, etc.
   Mulching is absolutely needed, as it reduces evaporation and keeps the soil cool.
   Small wells dug around plants will allow for capturing water to the roots.
   Keep a barrel to capture the rain for watering purposes.

3. When choosing plants, you should use as many native pants as are appropriate, grouping plants in areas of similar water needs.
   (I believe that a good plant encyclopedia is necessary to plan and equate water needs,)

4. In xeriscaping, a deep watering is required only once a week. It can be best accomplished by an irrigation system--and if you need to make your own, go to Irrigation tutorials.com to find directions.

5. Adding interesting shaped large stones--or even weathered tree branches to lend an interesting touch.

Tips & Warnings

• While xeriscaping translates to mean "dry scene," the real concept behind xeriscaping is simply just using the best plants suited to your area , while adding watering tips to best allow roots to capture and retain water.
• It may be necessary to add to an existing garden, or move plants around, which complement each other, and water minimally--but effectively. But, it does NOT mean that you need to start "from scratch" and buy all new plants.

[lisagregor]

on 2/27/2009 I never thought about digging small wells around my plants. Great idea! Thanks! 5*

[vallain]

on 2/20/2009 I did this in South Texas (xeriscaping) where they use lots of gravel in the yards and desert plants. It looked good and no mowing.

[Elander]

on 2/19/2009 Great tips to create a low maintenance garden to your yard. Out here, we would use mostly sagebrush, though. ;)