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The steps to plan and care for a low-maintenance, low-water xeriscape garden.
At High Country Gardens we pride ourselves on offering a wide selection of xeric perennials that can be used to create a low-water, eco-friendly garden. With drought conditions becoming more and more common in the Western United States, people are becoming more aware of how much water is used in their yard. It is possible to have a beautiful blooming garden without having a high water bill to maintain it. There is no need to "zeroscape" your yard, with xeric perennials it is easy to create a beautiful xeriscape.
Here is a guide to what it means at High Country Gardens to create a low-maintenance, low-water xeriscape garden.
Planning and Design
Whether you're starting from scratch, or renovating an existing landscape, take the time to plan out your design before you start to plant. Part of the planning process involves creating water use zones so you can allocate water usage where it will most directly contribute to the beauty and comfort of your home.
There are three water use zones:
The Oasis Zone (zone 1) where the more water-intensive plants are used is the area up close to the house where the landscape is most visible and accessible to the home's interior and entry ways.
- Use hardy garden perennials, non-xeric groundcovers, ornamental grasses, small ornamental trees, annuals, container gardens, water features.
- Water harvesting from roof areas and hard surfaces is most easily done here.
- Vegetable gardens are considered oasis plantings (but do not need to be located next to the house).
The Transition Zone (zone 2) where water-wise xeric plants are used in areas that occupy the middle ground of the property especially along walkways, driveways, fences and other areas that are visible as you approach the house.
- Use xeric perennials, shrubs, shade trees, ornamental grasses and native turf grass lawns.
- Harvested water is especially useful for irrigating shade trees which need infrequent irrigation once established.
The Xeric Zone (zone 3), where only very xeric plants exist, is the outermost area along the property boundary and includes any out-of-the-way areas that are not used or seen much.
- Use very xeric perennials, shrubs, ornamental grasses.
Note: Many homeowners who are not gardeners (and some who just prefer xeric plants opt to forego an oasis zone and bring the transitional zone right up to the house. This gives them the landscaped look they want while providing additional watering savings.
Use Native Grasses for Turf Areas whenever possible
For optimum water savings use native grasses such as turf-type Buffalo Grass and Blue Grama grass (in the Western US). These are excellent drought-tolerant alternatives to thirsty Kentucky Blue Grass and other turf type grasses.
Only plant Kentucky Blue Grass or Fescue-type turf lawns in areas where heavy recreational use will occur. Herbaceous and woody groundcovers are an excellent low maintenance, low water lawn alternatives, especially on hillsides or when a less formal look is desired.
