The Seven Principles of Xeriscape

 

Burgau - Ecossistemas project and landscaping 

Studio Art Arquitecture

Xeriscaping continues to gain popularity around the world as people discover the benefits of this landscaping technique. In Latin, xero means dry and scape means landscape or view. As an official landscaping technique, xeriscaping seems to have ‘originated’ in the 1980’s as a result of ongoing, multi-year droughts plaguing the Western, United States, but people have been planting to match their climate for centuries.

Landscapers–from California to the Rocky Mountains–were seeking a way to create gardens less dependent on irrigation without sacrificing aesthetic-appeal. , the largest and oldest public water utility in Denver, Colorado, coined the term and began to formally define the main principles of xeriscaping for members of the Denver community interested in modifying gardening practices to save water. Though it began in an effort to engage in water conservation in dry areas, it evolved to include a broader set of goals captured in the guidelines below.

Seven Principles of Xeriscaping 

1. Sound landscape planning and design.

2. Limitation of turf (commonly referred to as lawn) to appropriate, functional areas.

3. Use of water efficient plants.

4. Efficient irrigation.

5. Soil amendments.

6. Use of mulches.

7. Appropriate landscape maintenance.

Xeriscaping doesn’t just have to be for arid climates. These principles can be implemented in all ecoregions and lead to positive outcomes like reduced weeds, the creation of dense native plantings, less yard maintenance, minimized use of pesticides and fertilizers, and reduction of non-native lawns. In an attempt to understand why people choose to engage in xeriscaping, researchers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada identified two neighborhoods with homeowners that had engaged in xeriscape landscaping.  Twenty families were interviewed regarding their choices for their yards, their motivations, and the consequences of their gardening choices. They discovered water conservation took a back seat to aesthetics and the joy of gardening as the primary motivations for adopting xeriscaping principles.

The results of this research show that households with xeriscape landscaping were motivated mainly by factors related to landscape aesthetic and physical activity rather than water conservation.

Must I use native plants for xeriscaping?

Notice that using native plants is not specified in the principles of xeriscaping. However, many gardeners do embrace using native plants in their designs. Why? The simple answer is native plants are better adapted to the regional climate variations than non-native plants. This often results in native plants success without excessive watering, fertilizers, or pesticides. Ecologically speaking, native plants are also thought to provide more beneficial habitat for wildlife, making them an excellent choice to support the birds, bees, butterflies, mammals, amphibians, and other creatures that share our neighborhoods with us. Homeowners can design xeriscape gardens with non-native plants, but our recommendation would be to exhaust native plant options first.

WINTER LANDSCAPING: TUNE IN TO THE FOUR WINDS

 

 

reserva da Luz - Mata Porcas - Lote 25 

Praia da Luz 

It’s winter, the dormant season. Plant and tree growth has slowed to a crawl or stopped completely. This is the perfect time to try out a winter landscaping exercise we’ll call the “Four Directions” or “Four Winds.” 

This exercise seems especially fitting in the new year. If you have a yard or garden (or, even if you do not), go outside and face each direction in turn, concentrating on what is special about each aspect.

• What are the features of the land?
• How do the trees grow?
• Where does the prevailing wind come from?
• Why is the snow deeper in one area than in another? Each direction has its own qualities.

THE NORTH

The north is often associated with cold, harsh winds of the winter season. However, the winds are also cleansing, just as they clear the dead leaves from trees to start again.

This direction also speaks to ideas and seeds waiting to germinate. So, the north symbolizes patience, endurance, thankfulness, and trust.

The north side of your yard is a perfect place to plant a double row of sheltering evergreens to block the wind. Since the north is also the direction of contemplation it would be a good spot for a meditative Zen garden or sculpture garden. Quiet colors like white, cream and silver represent the north.

This exercise seems especially fitting in the new year. If you have a yard or garden (or, even if you do not), go outside and face each direction in turn, concentrating on what is special about each aspect.

• What are the features of the land?
• How do the trees grow?
• Where does the prevailing wind come from?
• Why is the snow deeper in one area than in another? Each direction has its own qualities.

THE NORTH

The north is often associated with cold, harsh winds of the winter season. However, the winds are also cleansing, just as they clear the dead leaves from trees to start again.

This direction also speaks to ideas and seeds waiting to germinate. So, the north symbolizes patience, endurance, thankfulness, and trust.

The north side of your yard is a perfect place to plant a double row of sheltering evergreens to block the wind. Since the north is also the direction of contemplation it would be a good spot for a meditative Zen garden or sculpture garden. Quiet colors like white, cream and silver represent the north.

Morning light is good for growth so look for trees that block the morning sun from reaching your garden and prune or remove them altogether. Most perennials thrive where there is morning sun.

East facing gates are welcoming and the east side of the yard is also a good place to locate a bench or hammock to spark creative daydreams.

Plants with gold or yellow flowers and foliage represent the east.

THE SOUTH

South reminds us of warmth, growth, fulfillment, and passion. The Sun is at its highest and drawing life from the Earth. 

The southern direction also symbolizes faith, change, self-sufficiency, and strength. A south-facing slope is ideal for a vegetable garden, a large open field, or flower gardens.

Plant a border of hot colors in a south-facing garden or locate a fire pit or barbeque there. Triangular shapes can take the place of real fire, so you can use a triangular shaped sculpture or even a three-sided stone to represent fire.

Plants with purple or blue flowers contrast with the hot colored flowers and calm the heat.
 

THE WEST

Weather most often moves west to east in North America. To Native Americans, the great Thunderbird lived in the west and sent thunder and rain from its direction.

As water is associated with the west, that makes it a good place for a small pond, fountain, or other water feature. Rich reds and oranges echo the colors of sunset in a west facing garden.

The west also symbolizes the end of the day, where the sun sets.  It symbolizes travel, the attaining of goals, and of compassion. It is also a social direction that encourages fellowship. A west facing patio, shaded by deciduous trees is a perfect spot for gathering with others at the end of the day.

To chart the progress of your garden throughout the year, snap a picture looking in each direction on the first of every month. You’ll be surprised at the transformation as the seasons change.

Garden design, construction, maintenance, irrigation systems, ground clearing and pool maintenance.

LOOKING AFTER YOUR GARDEN

Eco Gardens can tailor a maintenance plan to suit you and designed to maximise your enjoyment of your garden.

Our maintenance teams are friendly, experienced and dedicated, with each team run by a Head Gardener. The teams are fully kitted out with a full range of machinery and we will always try to send the same team to look after your garden so they can hit the ground running every week.

You would be charged a monthly fee for a weekly visit which covers all standard maintenance:

• Lawns mowed, edged and treated as necessary
• Trees, shrubs, climbers and herbaceous perennials pruned, tidied and ‘trained’
• Plants fed and fertilized
• Weeds hand-pulled or treated with herbicide
• Green waste removed from site (re-used for compost)
• Terraces and paths kept clean and weed free
• Irrigation monitored and checked on a regular basis and reviewed when necessary.

We take great pride in the fact that much of our new business comes from word of mouth and referrals from happy customers.

LANDSCAPING YOUR GARDEN

We provide a fully bespoke service and will work with you to create the garden that fits in with your needs and your lifestyle.

We are passionate about making sustainable gardens that work in sync with the land and climate of the Algarve. Native and drought resistant planting are integral to our designs as is water conservation and effective irrigation planning.

After your initial enquiry we follow a five step process:

Step 1: Initial consultation

We meet with you on site to get a feel for what you would like to achieve and the art of the possible. As a result of this meeting we will put together a detailed design brief.

Step 2: Site survey and analysis

We take a full measured survey of your garden including soil type, level changes and existing features.

Step 3: Outline plan

An outline plan is produced to broadly cover the proposed design with photographs, sample materials and a rough budget.

Step 4: Final plan

We draw up a large ‘to scale’ plan with full details of all proposed landscaping including structures and features within your garden. This final plan is supported by detailed construction drawings (if relevant) and will include a full quotation for all landscaping works, excluding planting.

Step 5: Planting plan

Finally we prepare a full planting scheme to include detailed planting layout showing colour and plant lists. The planting plan includes a fixed price quotation.

WATERING YOUR GARDEN

We are well aware of the increased cost of water and the sanitation changes here in the Algarve. This in addition to the possibility of hotter, drier and longer summers means we are increasingly careful about our use of water both from a cost and sustainability point of view.

We have an in-house team of irrigation specialists who can design or modify the irrigation in your garden to optimise your water usage. This in conjunction with careful planting and creating sustainable gardens better suited to the Algarve climate is already proving invaluable in driving down costs and actively conserving water for our clients.

LIGHTING YOUR GARDEN

Transform your garden with the addition of some really well thought outgarden lighting.

Good lighting creates fantastic ambiance and drama and enables you to enjoy your garden after dark and through the seasons.

We have specialists in-house who can advise, design, update and install lighting to create the effect you want in your garden.

TREE MANAGEMENT

Our in-house arboricultural team offer a full tree care service.

The team have all of the climbing equipment necessary to remove or prune trees even from tricky areas where access may be difficult, or where the tree is situated close to a structure.

Services include:

• Pruning
• Palm tree treatment and removal
• Tree Felling
• Mobile chipping
• Stump grinding

SUSTAINABLE GARDENS

ECO Gardens are committed to designing and maintaining gardens using sustainable and environmentally friendly methods that work with the land and climate of the Algarve.

Where possible we:

• Shred green waste to be re-used as compost
• Use organic mulching to suppress weeds and retain moisture
• Use drought resistant plants in our garden designs to suit the Algarve environment
• Limit the use of harmful chemicals
• Conserve water

COMMERCIAL WORKS

ECO Gardens offer a comprehensive range of services for commercial clients including: Garden Maintenance, Landscaping and Design, Lake and Pond Construction, Garden features and Lighting, Garden Structures, Irrigation and a full Tree Surgery service.

We have a well-established and experienced team which includes in-house specialists from the horticulture, arboriculture and construction industries.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss any future projects you have in mind or to quote on existing maintenance contracts.

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