“A xeriscape garden uses plants that have low water requirements, making them more able to withstand short periods of drought.”

Xeriscape comes from a combination of two words: "xeri" is derived from the Greek word "xeros" meaning dry; and "scape", meaning view or scene, together they mean "a dry scene."

The term Xeriscape was coined in Denver, Colorado in 1978. Xeriscaping is landscaping with slow-growing, drought tolerant plants, allowing a conservation water and nutrients. Xeric landscapes are conscious attempts to develop plantings which are compatible with the natural environment. Xeriscape landscapes need not be just cactus and rock gardens. They can be green, beautiful landscapes in which plants are maintained with water-efficient practices, and heavy mulching.

Xeriscaping is not the same as Zeroscaping. Zeroscaping is using a lot of rocks and a few sparse plants to create low-water-use landscaping. Xeriscapes use a wide variety of native and other water-efficient plants to create an oasis of color, interest, diversity, and texture.

There are many flowering perennials that are drought resistent. Plants with a silvery foliage such as Artemisia, catmint, and perovskia (Russian Sage) are usually drought resistent. Soapwort, Sedum varieties, thymes varieties, mints, oreganos, catnip, Marjoram, sage, hyssop, and savory are also drought resistent. Flowers include Sunflowers, Mexican sunflower, Silver Lace Vine, Oriental and Shirley Poppies, Sea Lavender, Salvias, Penstemon, Lamium, Iris, Daylily, Coreopsis, Echinacea, Black-eyed Susan, Batchelor button, and Baby’s breath.

There are 3 Xeriscape Zones

In xeriscaping, plants are grouped into three specific zones based upon the water needs of the plants and the distance from the central area. Zoning creates a water-efficient landscape that is both beautiful, functional, and sustainable. The physical characteristics of the site should be considered. Every yard has a "micro-climate" which could affect the design and plant choices. Sunny west and south sides of a house will have a warmer micro-climates and are more suited for arid, drought-tolerant plants. The cooler north and east sides could be used for oasis zones.

Zone 1: Arid

The arid zone will have the most drought-tolerant plants. Native plants and other varieties are used and rarely require supplemental watering. The most arid zones are located away from the house and high-traffic areas and could be left in its natural state or interplanted with drought resistent native varieties.

Zone 2: Transitional

The transition zone combines lush areas with the drier parts of a landscape. This zone takes advantage of low and moderate water use plantings that need infrequent supplemental watering (once a week or less). A path could wind through this area, creating interest and access.

Zone 3: Oasis

The lush, oasis zone should be nearer to your house, and could include the higher water use plants, a small pool of water, a formal area, paths from porches lined with solar lanterns, shade from pergolas, and a small lawn area using drought-tolerant grasses like buffalograss and blue grama. This zone could take advantage of rainfall runoff from the roof line and gutter downspouts.

There are 7 basic principles for water conservation

Careful planning and design, soil analysis, a practical turf area, appropriate plant selection, efficient irrigation, mulching, and appropriate maintenance.

1. Planning and design

Creating a water-efficient xeriscape begins with a well planned design for water conservation and beauty . Sketch your yard locating existing structures, trees, shrubs, plants, and grass areas. Then consider the cost, desired appearance, function, maintenance, and water requirements. Then visualize the placement of new plants and varieties, possible areas for a small pool, terraces, rock beds, pergolas, and paths.

2. Soil analysis

Healthy soils grow healthy plants. Test the soil for organic matter and nutrient content before the adding amendments. The test results can indicate what nutrients are lacking, and will give you an idea of how much compost or other organic material should be added. For soil building techniques refer to our web page "Sustainable Organic Gardening".

3. Practical turf areas

There are many drought-tolerant native grasses such as Buffalograss, Fairway crested wheatgrass, and Blue gramagrass. Non-native drought resistent grasses include Kentucky Bluegrass, Canada Bluegrass, and Hard Fescue, Tall Fescue, and Red Fescue.

4. Appropriate plant selection

Appropriate plant selection keeps the landscape in tune with the natural environment. Both native and non-native plants make up the huge variety available for Xeriscape landscaping. Many xeric plants actually prefer not to have too rich a soil. For these hardy natives, all you'll need to do is loosen the soil a little before you plant.

5. Efficient irrigation

The goal of good irrigation system is to give plants a sufficient amount of water without waste. Watering systems should be designed with the 3 planting zones in mind. Lawns and other higher water-use areas should be irrigated separately from native and xeric plants. Turf lawns are best watered by sprinklers or subsurface irrigation. Trees, shrubs, flowers and groundcovers can be watered efficiently with low-volume drip emitters, sprayers, and bubblers, and micro-emitters use water in moderation, applying it where the moisture is needed, preventing unwanted weed growth. Hand watering with a hose-end sprinklers should be done between early in the morning or late in the day in order to avoid water waste by evaporation.

6. Mulching

Organic mulches include peat moss, manure, compost, leaf mold, and sawdust. They all have the advantages of conserving moisture, slowly providing nutrients as they break down. A good layer of mulch in flower and shrub beds conserves water by significantly reducing moisture evaporation from the soil. Mulching reduces weed populations, prevents soil compaction, and keeps soil temperatures constant, providing ideal conditions for each plant.Mulches work best on vegetable and flower plantings, shrub beds. Mulches should not be placed against the trunks of trees and shrubs, but pilled back a few inches to keep insects and rodents from feeding on the bark during the winter.

7. Appropiate maintenance

Good maintenance preserves the beauty of the Xeriscape landscape and it will save water. Pruning, weeding, proper fertilization, pest control all help to conserve water.

Trees and Shrubs

For most trees and native shrubs, the planting hole preparation is the same, and minimal amending of soil is best. After planting surface mulch to slowly improve all soil within the tree's drip line which is directly below the outermost reaches of the branches.

Stake newly planted trees on two sides,loosely tying them for support during their first year to help the tree roots get established. All trees and shrubs need frequent watering for the first two growing seasons, from planting time until they are well rooted. Once established, they can tolerate less frequent watering.

Drought resistent tall trees include Boxelder maple, Scotch Pine, Colorado spruce, common Hackberry, ponderosa pine, green Ash, Limber pine, Juniper varieties, Black Hill spruce, Quaking aspen and Bur and Scrub Oak. Medium trees include Ohio Buckeye and Hawthorn. Shorter trees and shrubs include Amur maple, Russian olive, Chokecherry, Siberian pea-shrub, and American plum.

This article originally appeared on Giannangelo Farms Southwest website, www.avant-gardening.com: "YOU CAN GROW!" using sustainable organic gardening as a medium for creative expression and spiritual growth. Extensive sustainable organic gardening information, workshops, monthly newsletter, organic gardening CD's, virtual tours, links/resources, and more.