2. Low-Water-Use Plants
Local nurseries carry hundreds of low-water-use native or desert-adapted plant species that are water thrifty. These plants come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some serve more than aesthetic purposes, as they also offer shade and can screen unsightly areas. Many also have beautiful flowers that can help you create a colorful, low-maintenance yard without using up our limited water resources.
3. Appropriate Turf Areas
There are times that only grass will do, especially if you are sports minded or if there are children or pets at home. While turf generally requires more water and more maintenance than low-water-use plants, it can be incorporated successfully into a xeriscape if it is properly planned, installed and maintained.
4. Efficient Irrigation
First, determine how much water your plants will need so that you can apply only that much. Almost all new plants will need to be watered regularly while being established. When you design your irrigation system, it is wise to put trees, shrubs, groundcover, and turf areas on different valves so you can time their irrigation separately. You can usually cut back on watering after the plants are well established. Each season may require different watering needs, so you will want to adjust your irrigation system accordingly.
5. Soil Improvements
If using low-water-use plants, most will thrive in our desert soil without adding fertilizers and soil supplements. They will need good drainage, and the soil needs to be loosened at planting time to encourage healthy root growth. Turf areas will require soil amendments as well as areas with plants that are thirsty. The Sonoran Desert has a wide variance of soil quality and composition, and at times will require soil amendments for unusual conditions.
6. Use of Mulches
There are many types of organic and inorganic mulches. The purpose is to cover the soil and reduce evaporation from planted areas. They are also helpful in inhibiting weed growth and erosion. The most popular organic mulches are bark chips and wood grindings. Leaves, flowers, and fruit that drop can also be left on the ground as mulch. For inorganic mulch, decomposed granite and crushed rock are the most popular.
7. Appropriate Maintenance
When all of the previous steps have been done well, xeriscape saves water, time and money through reduced water needs and lower maintenance requirements. Xeriscape does not mean “zero” water and “zero” maintenance, as all landscape requires some care. Proper pruning, a well-maintained irrigation system, and prudent use of fertilizers will go far and keeps your yard beautiful and natural looking.
For questions, concerns or comments, feel free to reach out to our team. We can be reached in the office at 602-252-6434, via email at [email protected], or connect with us socially at www.Facebook.com/Xeriscapes and on Twitter @XeriscapesAZ.