Xeriscaping: Creative Landscaping Fact Sheet No

Xeriscaping: Creative Landscaping Fact Sheet No. 7.228 Gardening Series| Basics by C. Wilson and J.R. Feucht * Xeriscaping (zer-i-skaping) is a word rock on south and west exposures can raise Quick Facts originally coined by a special task force of temperatures near the house and result in the Denver Water Department, Associated wasteful water runo#. ‡ 3URSHUSODQQLQJLVWKHÀUVW Landscape Con tractors of Colorado and step in landscaping to reduce Colorado State Univer sity to describe water use. landscaping with water conserva tion as a Slope of Property major objective. "e derivation of the word Slope or grade is another consideration. ‡ Steep slopes with south and is from the Greek “xeros,” meaning dry, and Steep slopes, especially those on south west exposures require more landscaping – thus, xeriscaping. and west expo sures, waste water through frequent water to maintain the "e need for landscaping to conserve runo# and rapid water evaporation. A same plant cover as east or water received new impetus following the drought-resistant ground cover can slow north slopes. drought of 1977 throughout the western water loss and shade the soil. See fact sheet Terracing slopes reduces states and the recog nition that nearly 50 7.230, Xeriscaping: Ground Cover Plants , ‡ percent of the water used by the average for suggested ground covers. Strategically runoff. household is for turf grass and landscape placed trees also can shade a severe exposure, ‡ Limit irrigated bluegrass turf plantings. creating cooler soil with less evaporation. to small or heavily used areas. Unfortunately, many homeowners have Terracing slopes helps save water by slowing cut back on turfgrass areas by substituting runo# and permitting more water to soak in. ‡ Soil preparation is a key to vast “seas of gravel and plastic” as their water conservation. answer to water conservation. "is practice Reduce Irrigated Turf ‡ Proper irrigation practices and is not only self-de feating as far as water conservation is concerned, it also produces Avoid narrow strips of turf, hard to system design can lead to 30 damaging e#ects to trees and shrubs. It is not maintain corners, and isolated islands of to 80 percent water savings. xeriscaping. grass that need special attention. Not only is mainte nance more costly, but watering becomes di% cult, o&en wasteful. If your yard Planning – An Important is already landscaped, see 7.234, Xeriscaping: First Step Retro"t Your Yard , for information on ways Whether you want to redesign an old to evaluate and eliminate unneeded turfgrass land scape or start fresh with a new one, a areas. plan is a must. "e plan does not have to be Bluegrass turf can be reduced to areas elaborate but should take into consideration near the house or that get high use. In the exposures on the site. As a rule, south outlying areas, use more drought-resistant and west expo sures result in the greatest grasses or even meadow mixes containing water losses, espe cially areas near buildings wild*owers, particu larly if your property or paved surfaces. You can save water in is large. Refer to 7.232, Xeriscaping: Turf these locations simply by changing to plants and Ornamental Grasses , for suggested adapted to reduced water use. However, alternatives to bluegrass. don’t be too quick to rip out the sod and substitute plastic and gravel. Extensive use of Soil Preparation Proper soil preparation is the key to successful water conservation. If the soil is *J.R. Feucht, Colorado State University Extension very sandy, water and valuable nut rients will landscape plants specialist and professor (retired). ©Colorado State University Prepared in cooperation with the Technical Advisory be lost due to leaching below the root zone. If Extension. 3/96. Reviewed 10/07. &RPPLWWHHIRU;HULVFDSH)URQW5DQJHDQDIÀOLDWHRIWKH your soil is heavy clay, common in this area, National Xeriscape Council, Inc. Reviewed by C. Wilson, you will lose water through runo#. www.ext.colostate.edu Extension horticulture agent, Denver county. 10/07 A good soil, one that supports healthy Irrigate turf areas di# erently than shrub plant life and conserves moisture, has borders and *ower beds. North and east Steps to Xeriscaping a bal ance of rather coarse soil clusters exposures need less frequent watering ‡ (YDOXDWH\RXUSURSHUW\·VH[SRVXUH (aggregates), sand and pore spaces. "e than south and west exposures. Apply and slope and how your family “ideal” soil has as much as 50 percent by water to slopes more slowly than to *at volume pore space, with the soil itself surfaces. Examine these closely and correct uses the yard. consisting of a good balance of sand, silt ine%ciencies in irrigation system design. ‡ 5HGXFHLUULJDWHGWXUIZKHUH and clay. If you do not have a sprinkler system appropriate and replace it with low- A major problem with heavy soils is that and are just beginning to install a water alternatives. clay tends to dominate the soil complex. landscape, you can avoid the pitfalls of Clay is composed of microscopic crystals poorly designed and installed systems. ‡ 3UHSDUHWKHVRLO7KLVLV\RXUEHVW arranged in *at plates. When a soil has Have a professional irrigation company do opportunity. a high number of these crystals, they act the job correctly. Make sure the system is much like a glue, cementing the particles designed to +t the landscape and the water ‡ ,UULJDWHSURSHUO\ of sand and silt together and resulting in a needs of the plants and that it is zoned to ‡ 8VHPXOFKWRVDYHZDWHULQKLELW compact, almost airless soil. reduce unnecessary applications of water. weeds and improve the soil. Such soils usually repel surface water, Coordinate the landscape design itself, result ing in runo#. What water does get selection of plants and the irrigation system ‡ 6HOHFWDSSURSULDWHSODQWV . into these soils is held so tightly by the clay to result in a sensible water-saving scheme. itself that plants cannot use it. Plants in a Consider a drip system for outlying clay soil, even though it is moist, o&en wilt shrub borders and raised planters, around from lack of moisture. Plant roots also need trees and shrubs, and in narrow strips other soil organisms help incorporate the air to thrive. In clay soils, air spaces are where conventional above-ground systems organic component into the soil. Organic small and may be +lled with water, so plant would result in water waste. mulch is preferred because most soils in roots o&en su#er from oxygen starva tion. If you use hoses instead of an this area are low in organic content and In very sandy soils, the opposite is true. underground system, you can observe need organic amendments to improve Sandy soils have very large pore spaces. water patterns. Instead of watering the aeration and water-holding capacity. Because the particles are large, there is little entire lawn each time, spot water based Inorganic mulches, such as plastic +lm, surface area to hold the water, so sandy soils on visible signs of need, such as turf that e#ectively exclude weeds for a time, but tend to lose water rapidly. begins to turn a gray-green color. they also tend to exclude the water and air A good soil is not made in just one year. Avoid frequent, shallow sprinklings that essential to plant roots. Woven fabrics and Add organic matter annually to garden lead to shallow root development. Compact +ber mats are preferred over polyethylene areas. In areas to be sodded or seeded, soils result in quick puddling and water +lms. Fabrics and mats exclude weeds add organic amendments as a one -time runo#. "ey need aeration with machines yet allow water and air exchange. Used in procedure. Take advantage of this one that pull soil plugs. combination with decorative rock or bark time before seeding or sodding by doing a Trees and shrubs separate from the chunks, they o&en outlast the less expensive thorough, complete job. "is encourages lawn are best watered with deep root but short-lived polyethylene +lms. For deep roots that tap the water stored in the watering devices. more information, refer to 7.214, Mulches soil and reduces the need for wasteful, for Home Grounds . frequent water applications Xerimulch the Landscape Properly selected and applied mulches Selecting Plants Xerigation – Saving Water in *ower and shrub beds reduce water use Carefully select plants to be compatible with Proper Irrigation by decreasing soil temperatures and the with soil, exposure and irrigation systems. Proper irrigation practices can lead to amount of soil exposed to wind. Mulches For recommended plants, see: a 30 to 80 percent water savings around also discourage weeds and can improve t
7.229, Xeriscaping: Trees and Shrubs. the home grounds. If a sprinkler system soil conditions. t
7.230, Xer iscaping: Ground Cover Plants. is already installed, check it for overall "ere are two basic types of mulches: t
7.231, Xeriscaping: Garden Flowers . coverage. If areas are not properly covered organic and inorganic. Organic mulches t
7.234, Xeriscaping: Retro"t Your Yard. or water is falling on driveways and patios, include straw, partially decomposed adjust the system. "is may mean replacing compost, wood chips, bark, and even heads, adding more heads, or changing ground corncobs or newspapers. Inorganic heads to do a more e%cient job. mulches include plastic +lm, gravel and With the system on, observe places that woven fabrics. Sometimes a combination of are receiving water where it is not needed. both organic and inorganic is used. If soil improvement is a priority, use Overlaps onto paved areas or into shrub &RORUDGR6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\86'HSDUWPHQWRI borders may result in considerable water organic mulches. Wood chips and compost Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. waste. Overwatering trees and shrubs may are most appropriate. As these materials CSU Extension programs are available to all without break down, they become an organic discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned lead to other problems. is intended nor is criticism implied of products not amendment to the soil. Earthworms and mentioned. Are you interested in more fact sheets on agriculture, consumer, food, gardening, insects or natural resources?

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