The Basics of Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping, developed in dry areas of the western U.S., is a method of designing gardens so that it they require as little supplemental water as possible. Xeriscaping focuses on the use of native and adapted plants and on careful plant placement to take advantage of available water. You don't need to live in an arid climate to take advantage of the principles of xeriscaping, as anyone who wants to reduce the use of water and chemicals can benefit from developing a xeric garden.

Use Native and Adapted Plants

Native plants are plants that have evolved in your climate, with your particular regional soil, and with all of the pests and disease problems that are prevalent in your area. This means that they have also evolved to thrive in those very conditions. 'Adapted' plants are those plants that are technically exotics, but are from regions with similar climates and rainfall, so they can adapt well to your situation.

What does this mean for the xeric gardener? It means that these plants will do just fine with your normal amount of rainfall and won't need any supplemental water from you. It means that you won't have to spray for insects and diseases because these plants can fend for themselves. It means, in essence, less work for you. Ready to start choosing native plants for your landscape? Check out eNature's guide to native plants. It lists hundreds of perennials, trees, shrubs, and grasses that are either native or adapted to each individual region of the United States.

Group Plants By Water Requirements

Every plant has specific requirements for how much water it needs to thrive. Generally, plants are considered low, moderate, or high in terms of their water requirements. You should be sure to place all plants with the same water requirements in the same area. For example, plants that prefer drier conditions should be placed together, preferably on the south or west side of your property, since that direction generally receives the most sunlight. Plants with higher moisture needs should also be placed together, and preferably placed on the north or east side of your property where they will receive a little less sun and won't dry out too quickly. This will saves you work as well as water.

Limit or Eliminate the Lawn

Lawns require a lot of water in order to stay green. A xeric landscape replaces as much lawn as possible with perennials, shrubs, trees, and/or groundcover as all of these require less water. If you must have a lawn, keep it as small as possible and consider using native grasses rather than typical turfgrasses. They will require a lot less water and will more readily resist disease problems.

Build Healthy Soil

If your soil is light, fluffy, and full of nutrients and microorganisms, chances are pretty good that any plant you put into it will thrive. If your soil is less than ideal, you will have to start building healthy soil. The way to build healthy soil is to add organic matter such as compost, rotted manure, chopped leaves, grass clippings, seaweed or peat on a regular basis. In time you'll have that dark, healthy soil that all gardeners dream of.

Use Water-Efficient Irrigation

Chances are, you will have to water sometime. Even a xeric garden can't thrive in total drought conditions. When you irrigate, make sure that you are not wasting water. Oscillating sprinklers, for example, are terribly inefficient because a lot of the water is lost through evaporation before it even hits the ground. Better choices are drip irrigation systems or a network of soaker hoses installed in your garden beds.

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch

Every garden bed in a xeric garden should be mulched with at least three inches of organic mulch such as shredded bark, shredded leaves, grass clippings or cocoa hulls. Mulch retains moisture, keeping the soil evenly moist even in dry weather. Beds that are adequately mulched require less water, and, as a bonus, the mulch feeds the soil as it breaks down.

A xeric garden isn't just for the Southwest anymore. Gardeners in any region can benefit from incorporating xeric principles into their landscaping.