Fact Sheet 4 Water Conservation and Drought-tolerant Landscaping Municipalities depend on local aquifers and rivers to supply water for all our local needs and while there may seem to be a never-ending supply, treated, drinkable water is becoming a valued resource that needs to be conserved. Using municipal treated water for our landscaping needs is not the best use for this energy-intensive process and faith communities may want to consider lowering the water demand of their properties. Faith communities can be leaders in their local neighbourhoods and lead by example through their Care for Creation outdoor actions such as using rain barrels, switching to xeriscape landscapes and changing some of their maintenance practices. Native drought tolerant landscapes are a great search current garden plants and relocate option to consider for many different types of plants that require high soil moisture together landscapes. Native plants are adapted for the so as not to overwater other plants. When cre- climatic zone and local conditions and are more ating new garden beds keep in mind the water resilient to changes. They will stay green and needs of plants and group similar ones together. colourful longer than exotic plants that can have high water demands and/or are not adapted to long • Newly planted flora will need extra watering but hot, dry summers. They offer a lower-maintenance once established, encourage your foliage (pe- option for both small and large properties to help rennial flowers, shrubs and trees) to develop Outdoor Greening Fact Sheet save water, money and or staff/volunteer time. deep roots to survive fluctuating water levels by watering slowly, deeply (so water soaks in Xeriscaped landscapes are not just rock garden ground) but less frequently. A general rule is with some grasses. Succulents, flowers and even to water once a week to the level of 2.5 cms. some shrubs and trees are drought tolerant. These types of landscape designs can be chosen for • Many lawns are composed of ornamental turf garden beds close to a faith building, around the grass rather than native species which requires outskirts of a property (to eliminate the need for much more water than native grasses. If you watering), for landscaped areas of a cemetery have turf grass, allow your lawn to go dormant in or other ceremonial grounds, on higher areas on the summer (which is a natural cycle for grass). the property or in large swaths where you’d like to eliminate traditional grass that requires watering • Water trees during droughts rather than lawns. and mowing. While trees do not show signs of stress during droughts many do need extra care. Damage Greening Sacred Spaces Water Conservation 101: due to drought shows up in trees in the next • Create healthy soil that supports healthy year, so watering (even if they do not seem to plants that can tolerate drought by add- need it) ensures their long-term survival. ing manure or compost. Mix it into your current gardens and top up annually. There are three garden items that are beneficial for all yards but especially for smaller landscapes • Use mulch in gardens to lessen evapora- and gardens close to buildings. They are a water tion (see details tips on mulch below) and gauge to determine how much rain water has Faith & Faith the Common Goods switch from overhead sprinklers to drip ir- fallen and how much extra watering needs to be rigators or soaker hoses installed under done, a drip irrigator on a timer which is an easy the mulch. This is a healthier way to water investment if you have a small property or if you plants and can save up to 50% of the water want to focus on one garden bed that may need Page from evaporation and misdirected watering. extra watering and a rain barrel which keeps water on the property and allows rain water to be used 1 • Group plants according to water needs. Re- for watering rather than treated potable municipal water. Water Conservation and Drought-tolerant Landscaping Different options for drought-tolerant not use “meadow flowers in a packet” from large landscaping can be chosen for your specific site stores as these can have unwanted exotic plants. and your garden maintenance requirements. Know your identification for invasives that may already be in the soil such as ragweed, burdock, dog Add some drought-tolerant natives to current strangling vine and garlic mustard and eliminate these seedlings as they sprout up before they take garden beds. a firm hold. Review the Urban Meadow Fact Sheet Choose a flower bed that you know has a few for more details. drought-tolerant plants already or a bed that has space at one end or another for three to four new native plants. Consider transplanting some Rock gardens water-loving plants out of certain garden beds to Rock gardens can be an attractive landscape make some room for your new xeriscape foliage feature, using large stones and small boulders especially those that are found on a higher level interspersed with groundcover, flowers and some where runoff is an issue. See Primer for planting grasses. Research plants before you introduce tips. them, as they can be hard to eliminate once the roots have taken hold between rocks. Rocks act as heat sinks, taking in the sun’s rays and then Create or Replace a Garden Bed. radiating it back out once the sun sets which When locating a new garden bed, identify what soil creates a micro-climate for the garden. Some type it is before choosing native drought-tolerant plant suggestions include: Pussytoes, Prairie plants. There are also some hardy plants that Smoke, Harebell, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Moss Phlox, will tolerate various soils (clays and sands) if it Common Bearberry, Ivory Sedge and Creeping Outdoor Greening Fact Sheet is difficult to determine. Some drought-tolerant Juniper. Some of these may need a soil that is on plants like full sun but you will also find flora for the acidic side. shady areas. Get advice from your local nursery on the best plants. See Primer for planting tips. Other Sacred Spaces Memorial spaces, cemeteries and other sacred No-Mow Grasses and Groundcovers. spaces such as a meditation garden can be an ideal Low maintenance drought-tolerant options include testing ground for drought-tolerant landscaping. groundcovers and no-mow grasses. Native Not all areas need to be high-maintenance garden groundcovers will stay green longer during times beds or lawns. of drought and don’t need to be cut like traditional lawns. If choosing a no-mow native fescue grass, • Identify areas of the property that would ben- they are well suited for low-traffic areas and make efit from water-saving initiatives. Work with a nice ground cover under a grouping of trees or natural features such as drier elevated ar- Greening Sacred Spaces around shrubs. They do well with some shade but eas and lower areas where water accumu- can also flourish under sun. See the Sustainable lates and plant appropriate native plants. Lawns, Ground covers and Alternatives Fact Sheet for other tips on groundcovers and no-mow • Determine how much lawn is really neces- grasses. sary. Is there another more drought toler- ant plant or other material that could re- Urban Meadows. place it. Use pea-gravel or other permeable Some meadow flowers are drought-tolerant and pavement options for gathering places in- Faith & Faith the Common Goods a unique garden bed or back property area could stead of grass (as its water needs are high) be converted to an urban meadow if there are that can stand up to high traffic or convert some resources and volunteers. An oval or lima- to a ground cover if there is no foot traffic. bean shaped garden bed could be designated for Page meadow flowers such as Yarrow, Daisy, Goldenrod, • Consider pea-gravel or other inorganic per- Black-eyed Susan, Coneflowers and Asters. To meable material for current impermeable sur- 2 ensure success, use seeds but also plant some faces that are creating run-off issues – such as seedlings and include a few mature plants. Do as when they are close to municipal roads. Water Conservation and Drought-tolerant Landscaping Depending on the number of garden beds on your • Consider drought-tolerant native (xeriscape) property and your garden resources (volunteers landscape features in far corners and/or higher vs landscaping company), consider creating grounds or along hilly, sloped surfaces or other mulches from organic materials readily available difficult places to mow. There are drought tol- on your property including fallen leaves and grass erant groundcovers, grasses and even shrubs. clippings. This saves money and is much more sustainable than using packaged mulches. • Add some native, perennial plants and shrubs along edges where weeds typically accu- Some tips when using mulch: mulate which will provide a natural but pur- pose-designed edge. Add signage to edu- • Wet mulch right after spreading to encour- cate visitors to the benefits of native plants age good micro-organisms to thrive and for sustainable gardening and pollinators. to give it some weight to stay in place. • Identify areas that could be low maintenance • Add around five centimeters of mulch and top areas where you could shift to native fine fes- up when needed (yearly or every second year). cue grass to provide a more peaceful, natural If you are using mulch that doesn’t break down looking space. These areas would require less quickly, your garden beds will need some ex- weeding, twice a year mowing and no watering tra compost every year to replenish nutrients.