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Conserve Water In Your Landscape - Xeriscape
By Bests | April 6, 2008
If you live in areas of the world that are naturally dry, or that often have droughts, xeriscaping may be great for your landscaping. By definition, xeriscaping is the act of landscaping using plants that need little water, or using water more efficiently in your landscaping. Xeriscaping is often seen in the dry, semi-arid land west of the Rocky Mountains. Even in the desert, you can have a beautiful landscape without using too much valuable (and expensive) water.
It is well known that cactus and rock gardens are forms of landscaping that use little water, and they are great candidates for xeriscaping. There are many different types of cacti, and they can look very attractive. Cacti can even have beautiful flowers. Cacti can add uniqueness and distinction to your yard. If you have pets or small children, it would be much safer to buy cactus plants or succulents (relatives to cactus plants) without spines.
Rock gardens are great for xeriscaping because of their lack of water needs. They are used where bushes or grass normally would be, but are easier to care for. They look very unique, and you can still have numerous plants around the rocks. For the best results, you should choose hardy, native plants that are used to living among rocks.
You donít have to be restricted to rock gardens and cactus plants to xeriscape, however. You can use xeriscape principles with more traditional flowers and grass. To do this, you simply need to choose which species of plants you will use carefully, and then pay close attention to your irrigation plan.
Perennials, which store a lot of nutrients in their roots and bulbs and do not need much water, are great for xeriscaping. Also, ornamental grasses, vines, shrubs, and groundcover are good candidates. Overall, the most important thing is to choose plants that are native to the area. The plants have been proven over time to be able to survive in the dry conditions. A nicely xeriscaped lawn will have a mix of more traditional plants like this and other plants like cacti and succulents. This mix will add another dimension to how your lawn looks.
If you are thoughtful in how you use water, your plants will benefit greatly. They will become stronger, use the moisture in the soil better, and be able to handle drought, insects, and disease more easily. People typically use twice as much water as they need to for their lawns. They water frequently and quickly. Instead, you should water occasionally and deeply. It will take more time at once, but the water will saturate the soil and the roots of the plants and grass will reach farther down into the soil. Other tips to help are to use mulch and wood chips in your landscaping . They help the soil to hold moisture better. Last, aerating your lawn helps distribute water through the soil and to the roots of your plants and the grass.
You can have a beautifully landscaped yard that conserves water by xeriscaping. The principles in this article will help you save money in water costs, while nurturing healthier plants at the same time. Less time will be spent on maintenance due to the new strength of the plants in your yard. By using native plants and watering them deeply to strengthen their roots, they will bloom over and over, and instead of replanting year after year because of dying plants, youíll have time to admire your xeriscape.
Thomas Fryd looks at grass for landscaping sharing from his decades of
experience. Thomas regularly offers his professional knowledge at www.Plant-Care.com where
you’ll find an evergrowing collection of plant and landscape information.
Tags: irrigation, water, xeriscape
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