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1 Faith & Fact Sheet4 the Common Goods Greening Sacred Spaces Outdoor Greening Fact Sheet Water ConservationandDrought-tolerant switching to xeriscape landscapesandchangingsomeoftheirmaintenancepractices. and lead by example through their Faithlocal neighbourhoods their can beleadersin properties. water demand of their communities forthisenergy-intensivebest use processmay andfaithcommunities wanttolowering the consider that needstotreated municipal Using beconserved. the landscaping needs is not our water for there may seem to be a never-ending supply, treated, drinkable water is becominga valued depend on localaquifersMunicipalities and rivers to local needsandwhile all our water for supply • • • Water Conservation101: and mowing. eliminate traditional grass that requires watering or in large swaths wherethe property you’d like to or other ceremonial grounds, on higher areas on watering), for landscaped areas of a cemetery (to eliminate of a the property need for outskirts beds close to afaith building, around the types of landscape designs can be chosen for some shrubs and trees are drought tolerant. These even and flowers Succulents, grasses. some with save water, money andorstaff/volunteer time. tooption for both small and large help properties summers. hot, dry They offer alower-maintenance high water demands and/or are not adapted to long longer than exoticcolourful that can have resilient to changes. They will stay green and climatic zone and local conditions and are more landscapes. Native plants are adapted for the option to consider for many different types of Xeriscaped landscapes are not just Native drought tolerant landscapes are agreat Group plants according to water needs. Re from evaporation and misdirected watering. plants and can save up to 50% of the water the mulch. This is a healthier way to water rigators or soaker hoses installed under switch from overhead sprinklers to dripir tion (see details tips below) and on mulch Use mulch in to lessen evapora current gardens and top up annually. ing manure or . Mix it into your plants that can tolerate drought by add healthy Create healthy soil that supports Landscaping CareCreation for - - - - water. for watering rather than treated potable municipal and allows rainon the property water to be used extra watering and a rain barrel which keeps water want to on focus one garden bed that may need investment if you have or if you a small property done, a drip irrigator on a timer which is an easy fallen and how muchextra watering needs to be gauge to determine how muchrain water has and gardens close to buildings. They are a water all for yards but especiallysmaller for landscapes • • • outdoor actions such as using rainsuch asusing actions outdoor barrels, There are three garden items that are beneficial are that items garden three are There needs of plants and group similar ones together. ating new garden beds keep in mind the water so as not to overwater otherplants. When cre plants that require high soil moisture together search current garden plants and relocate need it)ensures theirlong-termsurvival. year, sowatering(even if they donotseem to due to drought shows up in trees in the next droughts many do need extra care. Damage While trees do not show signs of stress during Water trees during droughts rather than . the summer (whichis a natural cycle for grass). have grass, turf allow yourlawn to godormantin much more water than native grasses. If you grass rather than native species which requires Many lawns are of ornamental composed turf to water once a week to the level of 2.5 cms. ground) but less frequently. A general rule is by watering slowly, deeply (so water soaks in levels water fluctuating survive to roots deep to develop trees) and shrubs flowers, rennial once established, encourage your foliage (pe Newly planted flora will need extra watering but - -

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2 Faith & the Common Goods Greening Sacred Spaces Outdoor Greening Fact Sheet Water ConservationandDrought-tolerantLandscaping especially those that are foundonahigher level make some room foryour new xeriscape foliage garden beds towater-loving plants out ofcertain new native plants. Consider transplanting some space at one end or another threefor to four has afew know you drought-tolerant plants already or a bed that has that bed flower a Choose garden beds. Add somedrought-tolerantnativestocurrent and your garden maintenancerequirements. site specific your for chosen be can landscaping as seedlings and include a few mature plants. Do To ensure success, use seeds but also some Asters. and Coneflowers Susan, Black-eyed meadow flowers such as Yarrow, Daisy, Goldenrod, bean shaped garden bed could be designated for some resources and volunteers. An oval or lima- to an urban meadow if therebe converted are areaa unique garden could bed or backproperty and drought-tolerant are flowers meadow Some Urban Meadows. Fact grasses. Alternatives and Sheet for othertips on groundcovers and no-mow covers Ground Lawns, Sustainable the See sun. under flourish also can around shrubs. They do well with some shade but a nice ground cover undera grouping oftrees or make and areas low-traffic for suited well are they lawns. If choosing a no-mow native fescue grass, of drought and don’t need to becutlike traditional groundcovers will stay green longer during times groundcovers and no-mow grasses. Native maintenanceLow drought-tolerant options include No-Mow GrassesandGroundcovers. the bestplants.SeePrimerforplantingtips. shady areas. Get advice from on your local nursery for flora find also will you but sun full like drought-tolerant plants Some determine. to difficult is will tolerate various soils (clays and sands) if it plants. There are also some hardy plants that type it is before choosing native drought-tolerant When locating a new garden bed, identify what soil Create orReplaceaGardenBed. tips. where runoff is an issue. See Primer forplanting Different options drought-tolerantfor radiating it back out once the sun sets which as heat sinks, taking in the sun’s rays and then roots have taken hold between rocks. Rocks act them, as they canbe hard to eliminate once the grasses. Research plants before you introduce some and flowers groundcover, with interspersed feature, using large stones and small boulders Rock gardens can be an attractive landscape Rock gardens for more details. Meadow Review Urban the hold. Sheet firm Fact a these seedlings as they sprout upbefore they take strangling vine and garlic mustard and eliminate may that already be in the soil such as ragweed, burdock, dog invasives for identification your Know stores as these can have unwanted exotic plants. large from packet” a in flowers “meadow use not • • • beds orlawns. Not all areas need to behigh-maintenance garden testing grounddrought-tolerant for landscaping. spaces such as a meditation garden can bean ideal Other SacredSpaces the acidicside. Juniper. ofthese Some may need a soil that is on Bearberry,Common Sedge and Creeping Ivory Smoke, Harebell, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Moss Phlox, plant suggestions include: Pussytoes, Prairie creates a micro-climate for the garden. Some Memorial spaces, cemeteries and other sacred as when they are close to municipal roads. faces that are creating issues run-off – such meable material for current impermeable sur Consider pea-gravel or other inorganic per traffic. foot no is there if convert cover or ground traffic a high to to up stand can that stead of grass (as its water needs are high) pavement options for gathering places in place it. Usepea-gravel or otherpermeable ant plant othermaterialthat or could re sary. Is there another more drought toler Determine is how much really neces lates and plant appropriate native plants. eas and lower areas where water accumu Work with natural features such as drierelevated ar initiatives. water-saving from efit that Identify would ben areas of the property ------

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3 Faith & the Common Goods Greening Sacred Spaces Outdoor Greening Fact Sheet Water ConservationandDrought-tolerantLandscaping • • or wood, shreddedor wood, leaves, coir and coconut others. materials. Organic mulches include chipped bark mulches include rock,stone and gravels and other biodegrade and add nutrients to the soil. Inorganic from erosion. Ifthey are organic they canalso unwanted, shade root zone areas and protect soil in the soil, suppress plant growth where it is above the soil. Mulches can help retain moisture are applied in gardens to act as a protective layer Mulches canbeeither organicinorganic or and Mulch isagreatwaytosavewater • • • providing a seating area that overlooks plots consider space, your for work fescues fine If linator-friendly plants throughout the fescues. sprinkling in spring bulbsandsomeotherpol and early season Add somecolour delight by eas for fine fescues are low-traffic, shady areas. once the grasses are established. The best ar weeding, twiceayearand nowatering mowing looking space. These areas requirewould less cue grass to provide a more peaceful, natural fes fine native to shift could you where areas Identify areas that could be low maintenance plants native for sustainable and pollinators. of benefits the to visitors cate pose-designed edge. Add signage to edu mulate which will provide a natural but pur along edges where weedstypically accu Add somenative, perennial plants and shrubs erant groundcovers, grasses and even shrubs. tol drought are mow. There to places difficult grounds oralong hilly, orother sloped surfaces landscape features in far cornersand/orhigher Consider drought-tolerant native (xeriscape) visitors. Signage in these areas could also help educate and there will be no watering requirements. Pollinators will be attracted to these areas as in more historic areas of aburial ground. renaturalize if acutlawnis not necessary, such areas can Determine whether certain to grave sites butnothave to walkon the grass. spot close more time visiting in a comfortable a tree for shade. This way visitors canspend has or a great vista that is also situated under ------

• • Some tipswhenusingmulch: sustainable thanusingpackagedmulches. clippings. This saves money and is much more including fallen leaveson yourproperty and grass mulches from organic materials readily available vs landscaping consider company), creating and your gardenproperty resources (volunteers Depending on the number ofgarden beds on your • • • conservation: Other wateringtipstohelpwithwater • • quickly, yourgarden beds will need some ex If you are using mulchthat doesn’t break down up when needed (yearly or every second year). top and mulch of centimeters five around Add to give it some weight to stay in place. age good micro-organisms to thrive and Wet mulch right after spreading to encour less water, as they can develop amore exten garden beds. Native perennial plants require container gardens and exotic plants to native annuals, When possible, rethink and convert stress.damp and cold and adds unnecessary day. Watering in the evenings keeps plants imal evaporation from the hot sun during mid- is the best time to wateras there will be min Early mornings between 6:00 am –9:00 am tion systems if you have an electric plug nearby. periods and can be used with a timed drip irriga the demand for municipal water during drought ing needs. This stored waterwill help alleviate Rain barrels provide free yourwater for landscap trees. cue that won’twater withyour compete for fes fine or cover ground a add or line drip the If possible, add mulcharound trees as far as and too muchmoisture could encourage rot. as trees breathe through their root flare andtouching the trunk oftrees (leave 13 so) cms or roots water towards the tree. Mulch should not be “mulch volcanoes” that supposedly help direct When mulching around new trees, do not create tra compostevery year to replenish nutrients. ------

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4 Faith & the Common Goods Greening Sacred Spaces Outdoor Greening Fact Sheet Water ConservationandDrought-tolerantLandscaping • May132016.pdf www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/GMI-Booklet_FINAL-FOR-WEB_ Lists somedrought tolerant native plants. Ontario Invasive PlantsCouncil— www.landscapeontario.com/xeriscaping-drought-resistant-gardening Landscape Ontario­ hoses so that you are not wasting water walk ic garden beds, use shut-off nozzles on your If hand watering patches of lawn or specif sive root systemover theyears. — : Drought ResistantGardening Ontario Grow MeInstead Links /FurtherInfo: - - • faulty equipmentorleaks. in working order sothat no wateris lost through Ensure that hoses and watering equipment are ing back to turnoffthe water at the source.

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