Xeriscaping: Landscaping for Efficient Water Use
Written on September 1, 2009 – 7:45 pm | by admin
Xeriscaping is a form of landscaping. It doesn’t refer to the aesthetics of the landscape, or even to the specific types of plants involved. Xeriscaping is simply concerned with landscaping in such a way as to require little or no supplemental irrigation. Not only is this environmentally friendly, it also adds to the ease of maintenance for the homeowner, and a reduction in water bills if applicable. Also, if you live in an area that suffers from drought, your landscaping investment is less vulnerable to water restrictions placed by state or local governments during times of reduced rainfall.
With proper research and planning, a xeriscape can be just as attractive and inviting as one which requires irrigation. Xeriscaping doesn’t demand that there be no watering, simply that alternatives which require less water be used when possible, and that areas which require more watering, such as grassy areas, be chosen carefully to gain the most benefit from them.
Successful xeriscaping includes many techniques. The proper choice of plants for your region’s climate is one; another is using sufficient, suitable mulch. Designing your plant beds with the properties of the watershed surrounding them in mind is yet another.