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Home , Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping: Retrofit Your Yard

Fact Sheet 7.234 Series | Basics

By C.R. Wilson and A. Cummins* Quick Facts Revised by J. Murgel** The average home landscape uses as Strips of grass narrower than 8 feet are As much as 50 percent of much as 50 percent of the water in a difficult to irrigate effectively with spray household water is used household. Even if you already have a heads. Size turf and garden areas for the yard and garden. well established landscape, you can accordingly. Irregularly shaped areas Change turf areas on substantially reduce water use by should be re-shaped to fit sprinkler steep slopes, hard-to- following some simple steps to transition patterns and the odd-shaped water places and narrow mowing strips to low- your yard (or portions of it) to a less areas converted to appropriately water ground covers. thirsty but still functional space. irrigated (or unirrigated) xeric plantings or Use or update an hardscape. To remove turf, follow the irrigation controller for instructions in CSU Fact Sheet 7.241, Start with Turf: Survey cycle and soak irrigation Renovating the Home . Your Yard to minimize runoff from slopes and compacted Perennial Beds and soils. Turf plays an important role in the Borders Modify sprinkler systems landscape when well placed and to water only turf areas, maintained. Turf prevents erosion by not hardscapes. Some perennial garden favorites can use wind and water and serves as a filter for A low pressure, micro- as much (or more) water than a lawn. A runoff. It builds soil tilth and is one of the irrigation (drip) system best means of urban fire control. Play wide selection of Colorado-native and can save water. areas for children and exercise areas for adapted is available in the nursery Like any plants, xeric pets are often best left in turfgrasses that trade though, for a low-water, resilient plants require more water can take heavy wear. Turf is not always flower or shrub garden. Using native and for establishment. appropriate, though, and you may wish adapted plants not only saves water but to remove turf as part of your xeriscaping can reduce the need for other garden plan, particularly lawn areas that are inputs like soil amendments and difficult to water and maintain. These . For any higher water-use include: plants you wish to keep, using drip irrigation and a three- or four-inch deep along fences layer of woodchip can reduce the on slopes where water tends to run amount of water you need to apply to off and/or mowing is difficult or keep them looking good. See Fact Sheet dangerous 4.702, Drip Irrigation for Home corners of where it is hard to for more information about drip irrigation.

water without overlapping into other *C.R. Wilson, Colorado State University areas Making the Change Extension agent, Denver County; A. Cummins, Colorado State University narrow strips of lawn between the Extension horticulture agent, Douglas house and sidewalk or driveway Once you’ve chosen the portion(s) of County. **J. Murgel, Extension Horticulture and Natural Resources Agent, Douglas irregularly shaped lawn areas that do your yard to retrofit, make a plan to County. 3/96. Revised 10/20. not fit the spray pattern of most complete the transformation. If the area sprinklers. extension.colostate.edu 1 © Colorado State University Extension. 3/96. Revised 10/20. you’ve chosen is large or if you are new to supplemental water. Consider water availability when in Colorado, consider implementing your new deciding the timing of a change from a moderate- or high- landscape in phases so you can get an idea of your water use landscape to a xeriscape. new garden’s maintenance needs and which plants do well in your yard. -tolerant plants can be used Step Five: Mulch. in any garden style; choose plants to complement one Mulching your new xeriscape will help mitigate soil another in bloom time, texture, form, and scale. compaction and prevent water loss from the soil due to evaporation. Many mulch options are available and Step One: Remove existing plants, mulch, and appropriate depending on which plants you have chosen landscape fabric. and your preferred appearance. Wood chips, pine Stockpile the mulch for re-use if it is in good condition. needles, and other organic have good water- Be sure that any turf and weeds are completely dead retention capacity and can help mitigate compacted soil. or removed before proceeding. A good practice is to try to mimic the natural “mulch” from a ’s native habitat. Gravel mulch can be beneficial for Step Two: Evaluate the soil and amend as needed. many native and drought-tolerant plants since it allows Compaction is among the largest challenges for water to drain away from their crowns quickly. Whichever Colorado landscapes to overcome, even for native mulch you choose, you do not need to apply weed barrier and adapted plants in a xeriscape. Prevent soil fabric beneath it—weed fabrics can inhibit water- and air- compaction in your new gardens but not walking or exchange into the soil and do not actually prevent weed driving in them when the soil is wet. If your soil is growth in permanent plantings. already compacted, use a spade or spading fork to gently lift the soil to help create air spaces between Practices to Avoid the soil aggregates. Consider submitting a soil sample for testing to determine your soil texture, organic Do not group plants with different water needs together in matter content, and nutrient availability. Most drought- the same irrigation zone. You will not be able to meet the tolerant plants will not require soil amendments and water needs of any of the plants resulting in poor plant perform better in the long term in leaner soils that growth or death. A common mistake is to group a high more closely resemble the region’s natural conditions. water-use plant such as a spruce together with a low water-use pine. Group plants with similar water needs Step Three: Modify or install irrigation as needed. together in a “hydrozone” so they can be effectively Perhaps you are switching a turf area to a xeriscape— watered for best plant health.Be careful not to over- you will want to adjust the irrigation to accommodate commit. New xeriscapes, like any new garden, require the new plantings. This could mean replacing spray maintenance to keep them weed-free and growing. Start heads with a drip system or moving/removing heads your transformation with an area of manageable size for or the entire zone. Be sure to consider the future size you and have a maintenance plan (for example, you might of plants and how they might impact irrigation choose to check the garden and manage weeds at a set coverage and access to system components for time every day). maintenance. Don’t “set and forget” your irrigation timer. Watering Step Four: Plants. needs for your new and existing plants change over the Note that even drought-tolerant plants require regular growing season and as plants grow. Some plants will and relatively high amounts of water after require more supplemental water as they get larger, transplanting or seeding until established. Depending others less. Check on your plants frequently and make on the size of plant you choose to install in your new adjustments accordingly. xeriscape this can range from days to years. In general, the smaller the plant the more quickly it Don’t plant weeds. Some noxious weeds in our state were establishes. Only after xeric plants are well introduced as landscape ornamentals—research plants established can they be gradually weaned from you plan to use in your new xeriscape and avoid those that could escape and naturalize into native habitats. 2 Table 1: Spreading Plants for hot, sunny slopes.

3 Table 2: Plants for dry shade.

Table 3: Common Garden Plants and Drought-Tolerant Alternatives.

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