You may have heard of xeriscape landscaping, or “xeriscaping”. It’s intended as a means of preserving water in areas where there is low rainfall and where there may be a “desert like” environment. This does not mean that this is the only time when xeriscaping works. It can be used to preserve water in any yard.
If you like this idea, you need to choose plants that are best suited to this type of situation and think carefully about the way you position them. You also need to think carefully about how to provide any water that is necessary. You may have a small amount of lawn that needs moisture, for instance.
Choosing plants for a xeriscape landscape
Remember that the main aim of xeriscaping is to preserve water. So, you need to mostly choose plants that can survive with little moisture. This does not mean that your yard needs to be full of cacti. As long as you are sensible with the way your design and water the space, you can add some plants that need more moisture to the mix. Take a look at some of the best plants to use in a xeriscape landscape.
You should group plants of similar moisture requirements together, keeping the ones that need the most moisture close to your property. It’s also a good idea to keep any lawn that you have away from plants, so that it can be watered separately. Try to reduce the amount of lawn space that you have as it requires a lot of water in order to thrive.
Providing any water that is needed
The reason that you need to separate plants by different moisture requirements is that you can then water them in different ways. This helps you to preserve water and it also prevents you from over-watering plants that prefer dry soil.
If you have a lawn, the best way to water it is still with a sprinkler. Separating the lawn from plants means that you can do this without wasting any water. If you have any plants that require almost no water, plant them furthest away from your property and the water supply.
For plants which require a small to moderate amount of water, you have different options. The most ecologically friendly choice is to collect and store rainwater for use when watering. You can invest in a rainwater harvesting system, or simply place a water butt where it can gather the most water. It’s also possible to water these plants using a bubble or drip watering system, so that the amount of water supplied is limited.
Xeriscaping your yard helps you to preserve water. This is especially important if you live in an area of the country where rainfall levels are low. If you design your xeriscape landscape in the right way, you should have a beautiful outdoor space where you can relax after work and at the weekend.