Water-wise Landscaping guide for water manage- ment planning Terry Keane EC 458 January 1995 Contents Getting Started.............................. DRAWING A PLOT PLAN .............................. Contents Materials Needed to Prepare a Plot Plan . References.................................................. SITE INVENTORY .......................................... Reference.................................................... SOILS .............................................................. Characteristics ............................................ Mapping Your Soils .................................... Reference.................................................... Contents .................................................... i SITE ANALYSIS .............................................. LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................... iii Reference.................................................... LIST OF TABLES ........................................................ iv LANDSCAPE IDEAS....................................... Preface ..................................................... v Look ............................................................. Visit.............................................................. Read ............................................................ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................. VI Relating Ideas to Your Site ........................ Introduction............................................... 1 Planning......................................... DEFINITION ..................................................................... 1 THREE IMPORTANT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS ........................................ SOCIAL BENEFITS ......................................................... 2 1. Landscape Use....................................... 2. Circulation............................................... THE CONSERVATION ALTERNATIVE ......................... 2 3. Environmental Aspects. ......................... HOW TO USE THIS BOOK ............................................. 2 FOUR BASIC PLANNING STEPS ................. Getting Started ............................................................ 3 1. Program Development ........................... Planning ....................................................................... 3 2. Conceptual Planning .............................. Designing ..................................................................... 3 3. Synthesis ................................................ Plant Selection............................................................. 3 4. Design ..................................................... Implementing Your Plan .............................................. 3 Bibliography ................................................................. 3 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ......................... Private/Secluded Areas ............................. Contents e Areas............................................................... 13 Aesthetics .................................................................. 31 ife Areas ............................................................. 13 Function ..................................................................... 31 rtaining................................................................ 13 Water Conservation................................................... 32 r Features .......................................................... 13 ening .................................................................. 13 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS ...................... 32 tenance .............................................................. 13 Soils............................................................................ 32 eral Use ............................................................... 14 Aspect ........................................................................ 32 s Viewed by the Public ...................................... 14 Wind ........................................................................... 33 Precipitation and Irrigation ........................................ 34 PTUAL PLANNING ........................................... 14 PLANT LIST ................................................................... 34 ESIS ................................................................... 15 Water Zones .............................................................. 34 Hardiness ................................................................... 34 ng................................................17 Size............................................................................. 35 Color ........................................................................... 35 Evergreen/Deciduous................................................ 35 N PRINCIPLES ................................................... 17 Perennials/Annuals ................................................... 35 nce ...................................................................... 17 Remarks ..................................................................... 35 hasis ................................................................... 17 Nomenclature ............................................................ 35 yand Variety ....................................................... 18 inuity ................................................................... 19 SELECTING PLANTS.................................................... 35 ONAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS ................ 19 r Zoning ............................................................. 19 Plant Selection Guide ............................37 or Climate Control ............................................. 19 TALL TREES (40'+) ....................................................... 37 N EXAMPLES ..................................................... 20 rences................................................................. 20 MEDIUM TREES (25-40') .............................................. 41 N MATERIALS .................................................... 20 LOW TREES (0-25') ...................................................... 42 NING YOUR SPACE .......................................... 28 SHRUBS OVER 6 FEET TALL ..................................... 44 G PLANT MATERIALS....................................... 28 SHRUBS UNDER 6 FEET TALL .................................. 48 ING WATER ZONES ......................................... 29 ANNUALS & PERENNIALS .......................................... 54 election .......................................31 GROUND COVERS ....................................................... 65 N INTENT............................................................ 31 TURF GRASSES ........................................................... 68 Contents References................................................................. 69 Subsurface Drainage and Underground U Additional Plants for Consideration that are not Walls and Walkways .................................. Readily Available ....................................................... 70 Permanent Irrigation Systems ................... Planting Large Trees .................................. Implementing Your Plan .........................71 Planting, Seeding, Fertilizing, and Mulchin Overplanting / Thinning .............................. References.................................................. SOIL AMENDMENTS .................................................... 71 MAINTENANCE .............................................. MULCH ........................................................................... 71 Water Zones 0 and 1 Plants ...................... References................................................................. 72 Spring Mulch Mending ............................... Maintaining Turf .......................................... IRRIGATION................................................................... 72 Pest Control ................................................ Annual and Perennial Beds ....................... WHEN TO IRRIGATE .................................................... 73 Pruning ........................................................ 1. Check the Soil ....................................................... 73 Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs...................... 2. Water Zones .......................................................... 73 Irrigation System Maintenance .................. 3. Indicator Plants ..................................................... 74 References.................................................. 4. Feel the Soil........................................................... 74 5. Evapotranspiration ................................................ 74 Irrigation Rate ............................................................ 76 Conclusion..................................... Designing Your System ............................................ 76 Appendix A: CHECKING YOUR SYSTEM......................................... 77 References................................................................. 77 BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................. LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION ...................................... 77 OTHER WATER-WISE LANDSCAPING SOU A SUMMARY OF STEPS .............................................. 77 COSTS............................................................................ 78 Planting Trees, Shrubs and Ground Cover ............. 78 LIST OF FIGURES PHASING CONSTRUCTION........................................