Xeriscaping is a sustainable landscaping technique that uses plants that require minimal water usage. It is a great way to reduce water consumption and create a beautiful landscape. This article will explain what xeriscaping is, how it works, and how to incorporate it into your own garden.Xeriscaping is the practice of landscaping with minimal use of water. It is an effective way to reduce water consumption and create a beautiful landscape.
Homes and businesses in desert climates, such as Las Vegas, use rocks and native vegetation, such as cacti, in xerogardening projects. The xeriscape concept was developed in Denver, Colorado, in response to water scarcity.Xeriscape refers to a landscape that uses little supplemental water. It does not refer to a dry and arid landscape, nor is a xerosive landscape a “unmaintained” landscape. Native landscape plants that require less water can be used instead of non-native plants.
They can offer similar aesthetic benefits and, at the same time, provide the same function as their counterparts that consume more water. A secondary benefit is that plants with low water requirements may also be better adapted to the alkaline soil characteristics of New Mexico and other dry regions.Like traditional landscapes, a xeriscape can be designed to minimize labor or to require frequent care. By using well-adapted plants, mulches that eliminate weeds and conserve water, and drip irrigation to make the most of the water, these landscapes can have color and fragrance with far fewer gardening tasks. If you want to spend more time in the garden, you can design a xeriscape to require as much labor as a traditional, heavily maintained garden, but to use much less water.Water is necessary for the normal physiological processes of all plants.
It is the main medium for chemical reactions and the movement of substances through the different parts of the plant. Water is an essential component in photosynthesis and plant metabolism, including cell division and enlargement. It is also important for cooling the surfaces of terrestrial plants through perspiration.Knowing the total length of a required drip hose allows you to purchase a ready-to-use kit with emitters already inserted into the hose. Deeply watered soil retains moisture for several days, while wet soil that is only an inch or so dries out in a day.
After establishment, watering may still be needed depending on the landscape design and plant needs. If drip irrigation starts in mid-summer, occasional supplemental irrigation with the above method is recommended to avoid plant stress.If your water supply is 5 gallons per minute, design the hose with head to irrigate the garden in one set; if your water supply is only 2 to 3 gallons per minute, divide the head into two sets using a T-hose with two closures to allow each half of the garden to be watered separately.Faced with these limitations, many homeowners have adopted an alternative gardening method called xerogardening. Jillian Steinberger-Foster and her husband run a business in California called Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping, where they design and create landscapes, mostly with mulch instead of grass. While they are still a small part of the landscaping industry, they feel that xeriscaping is no longer on the sidelines like before.For tips on how to incorporate energy and water saving techniques into your gardening, explore the Energy Saver 101 infographic on gardening.
While nitrogen is a natural element in soil, excess nitrogen can end up in bodies of water and cause algae growth, according to Steinberger-Foster.After educational programs from public service departments and environmental organizations have led people to opt for sustainable landscaping, there has been an increase in interest in recent years. For Lurie, she believes that this adoption of xeriscaping is part of a slow but constant process to create a more sustainable landscape.He said that grass has become an expected part of a home and that while many homeowners still prefer grass, others don't realize that they can switch to a more water-efficient and environmentally friendly landscape.Xeriscaping is an effective way to reduce water consumption while creating beautiful landscapes. By using native plants that require less water and incorporating mulches and drip irrigation systems into your garden design you can create an aesthetically pleasing landscape without sacrificing sustainability.
