How to Xeriscape

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By evgnspaces
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Xeriscape garden design in south west

Going green and Xeriscape landscapes work hand in hand to reduce waste and protect our environment. A Xeriscape is a sustainable garden system that uses the many different components of a garden site to conserve water and resources. There are seven components that are usually incorporated into a Xeriscape garden.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

a yard or garden
a desire to reduce environmental and monetary costs
soil sample results
local resources for plant purchases and information
this article and others related to it

Step 1

western garden book with zones for south west gardens

Designs and plans. To begin, make a Xeriscape plan for your yard. You will need to know your climate and planting zones. Zones can be found in many garden books, on the backs of seed packets and from your local university extension offices. Make a map of your yard showing the topography (different elevations) and the different microclimates. High and low temperatures for your area can be gotten from the national weather service or a local weather station or newspaper.
Step 2

Soil types. Soil evaluation of your garden and the general area will give a better understanding of the type of irrigation and plant varieties to use. Soil pH and structure are important components to consider when choosing plants for a site. Full comprehensive soil tests can be made by soil labs or you can get a simple test kit and make a quick general evaluation. Some cooperative extension offices will accept soil samples for testing. See article on how to use a soil triangle to determine soil structure.
Step 3

desert landscape with stone mulch and drip irrigation

Reduce traditional lawns. Reduce the costs of maintaining a large expanse of turf. Most homeowners have no need for a golf course lawn. By using native grasses or other ground covers and reducing the size of the lawn there will be less water, less fertilizer, less chemicals and less equipment pollution and costs. Reduce the area to the size really needed for your family activities, choose plants for your conditions and there will still be spaces for walking and playing.
Step 4

palms surviving in a yard after irrigation is not used in the desert

Plants for your site. Pick the plants for your zone and microclimates that will need the least amount of inputs to grow and survive. Find out about native plants from the surrounding area and get them from local nurseries and growers. The correct plants will survive during times of neglect or lack of natural and monetary resources. They might not look as lush but they won’t die and can be brought back when conditions change.
Step 5

winter wildflowers from rainfall

Irrigation or rainfall. Know your rainfall and the rainy seasons. Choose plants that grow during rainy season when possible. An example is winter rye grass for a mild area with winter rains. Install a simple rain gauge to check the actual rainfall in microclimate pockets of your yard. A rain gauge is also very useful to check on irrigation output when using overhead watering. In areas with moderate or little rainfall consider a rain collection barrel.
Step 6

thick natural forest mulch

Preserve soil moisture. One of the most widely used methods of conserving soil moisture is the use of mulches. Mulches reduce evaporation and run off during heavy rains. There are many products out there now that can be incorporated into the soil that will absorb water when it is in excess and hold it until the plants need it. Proper spacing of plants in the landscape allows for the full utilization of soil water resources by each plant.
Step 7

naturalized foxglove under forest trees

Maintenance. Xeriscape planting is environmentally friendly in many different ways. There is a reduction of equipment use needed for maintenance of informal plantings with smaller lawns. Xeriscape plantings require less water, fertilizers, replanting, deadheading and pruning. The Xeriscape system has less maintenance with lower costs overall.