Everyone wants their home to look nice, but sometimes watering and maintaining a garden proves too difficult or not worth the hassle. If this is what keeps your home from having the curb appeal you desire, then xeriscaping may be for you!
What is Xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping is landscaping and gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation. It is promoted in regions that do not have easily accessible, plentiful, or reliable supplies of fresh water, and is gaining acceptance in other areas as access to water becomes more limited. Xeriscaping may be an alternative to various types of traditional gardening.
Where does it work best?
While it’s best for arid climates that don’t receive enough rain or are subject to droughts, your lack of interest in watering could be considered drought conditions. Many in large cities may find themselves under water bans in the warm months, subjecting themselves to fines if they water their yards or flower beds. Regardless of your reasoning, xeriscaping is a great way to have the look you want.
What kind of plants are right for Xeriscaping?
The plants that qualify for xeriscaping are drought-resistant and include olive, peppermint, purple sage, and lavender. The Landscaping Network has a full list of drought resistant plants.
How is it done?
Once you’ve chosen the xeriscaping plants for your yard, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- While watering regularly isn’t necessary, keeping the plants’ roots moist is a must. Some ways to maintain that moisture include:
- installing a drip irrigation system to water the root directly
- replace soil to accommodate the deep-reaching roots of the plants
- using mulch to keep moisture in the ground
- Another thing to keep in mind is that some xeriscaping plants go dormant during some of thesummer months. Because of this, the shrub you planted may not be at its “spring finest” when you host that Fourth of July barbecue. Proper levels of moisture in the soil may prevent the dormant stage, but some plants are more prone to taking a summer nap than others.
Research is important in this area. Each species of plant behaves differently. Check out the list of
xeriscaping species and choose the ones that work best for your needs and watering schedule.
Some birds whistling around The Dirty Bird septic vent cover in the flower bed could be the perfect compliment to your xeriscape plants.
