If you are wanting to reduce your water usage, xeriscaping is the perfect solution! Xeriscaping is a kind of landscaping that utilizes plants and design principles that help conserve water.
Xeriscaping can be used in place of traditional gardening, or in addition to it. In this blog post, we will discuss five important things to consider when planning your xeriscape design.
5 tips for planning your xeriscape design
1. Make sure the design is visually appealing and fits in with your home’s style.
Just because xeriscaping is water-efficient doesn’t mean it has to be ugly! A beautiful and functional design can still be achieved with xeriscaping.
Be sure to choose plants that will complement your home’s style and make sure the layout of the garden is appealing.
If you need some suggestions and are not sure where to start, there are many resources available online and in libraries or bookstores. There are also many xeriscape professionals who can help you create a beautiful and water-efficient garden within your budget.
2. Choose plants that are drought tolerant and require little maintenance.
When xeriscaping, it’s important to select a variety of plants that can tolerate dry conditions. These plants will require less water than traditional landscaping options and are better suited for xeriscapes.
There are many different types of xeric (or drought-tolerant) plants out there! Pick ones suited specifically to your area so they’ll thrive on their own without a lot of additional care from you.
In addition, choosing xeric plants means less maintenance! Xeric plants are low-maintenance and don’t require much water or upkeep once they’re established in the ground. This saves time spent on yard work while saving your precious water resources as well.
Some xeriscape-friendly plant options include – aloes (aloe vera), cacti, succulents like kalanchoes, and agaves such as blue agave with its long spiky leaves that make excellent hedges for privacy screens.
3. Plan your layout carefully, use rocks to conserve water.
Once you have chosen your xeric plants, it’s time to plan their layout! Group them together according to water needs and sun exposure requirements so they’ll thrive without needing much additional attention from you.
Rocks are a great way of reducing evaporation rates when placed on top of dry soil as well as providing insulation during cold weather months where frost can damage delicate roots systems.
Be sure not only to use large enough sizes but also different shapes as well for maximum effect.
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4. Add some decorative elements, like a garden sculpture or xeric flower pot.
The xeriscape doesn’t have to be boring! You can add some decorative elements, like a garden sculpture or xeric flower pot with succulents such as Kalanchoe, to make it look more interesting and welcoming.
A birdbath is also a good touch that attracts wildlife which provides fun and even more visual interest.
Flowering plants are a beautiful way to decorate any landscape. Choose native dessert species such as lupines are a great choice.
Lupines are native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. They provide nectar sources for butterflies and hummingbirds with their large clusters of flowers.
5. Install a drip irrigation system that delivers the water right where it is needed.
Last but not least, the best way to water your xeriscape is by installing a drip irrigation system. This will deliver the water right to where it’s needed, without wastefully watering areas that don’t need it.
It also helps conserve water because you’re not using a hose to manually water everything or a sprinkler both of which can overwater your landscape.
However, when watering your succulents that you are growing in a container you will need to pay a bit more attention to these.
Luckily succulents don’t take a lot of water and learning how often to water succulents is easy.
Drip irrigation systems can either be installed by a professional or DIY-ed if you’re handy with tools. If you choose the DIY route just be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and use so everything works properly.
Now that you know these five important things to consider when planning your xeriscape design, get started on creating your perfect desert landscape today!
Author Bio: Dr Alice Williams
I am a physician who cares about healthy living. I strive to be as healthy as I can be so that I can thrive in my own life. By sharing what I know I want to help others to live a healthy life.
