Xeriscape: Landscaping with Style in the Arizona Desert

Water efficient landscapes can be used anywhere from small residential yards to large commercial sites. They can also be the most water wasting. Water use in landscaping can account for up to 50% of a typical family's water bill. Here are some tips to help you have a beautiful landscape yet be water efficient.

The Water Wise program promotes a landscape technique called "Xeriscape™. Xeriscape is a term a group of water professionals created in 1981. It is derived from two words: xeros or dry, and scape as in landscape. All put together, it means "low water landscaping". But remember! There isn't any "zero" in xeriscape!

Xeriscape can be colorful, exciting and water efficient. Here are seven general principles:

Design
Plan your landscape to include what you want and don't want. The more thought you put into the landscape BEFORE it is installed, will mean less work and care expense for you later. Make a "Wish List". Ask yourselves questions, for example: What views do you want hidden? Enhanced?  Will there be a garden spot? Do you want to attract wildlife for watching? What do you want from your landscape in the future? What can you afford? In designing a xeriscape, think zones.

Zones: It is helpful to divide your yard up into water use zones

Mini Oasis
This is the area immediately around your property. It can be the patio area, the area outside your front, a courtyard. By planting this area with moderate water using plants, you will help to cool your property. You can use the water that falls off your property and hard surfaces to supplement irrigation. Pay special attention to the west exposure of your property. This is the side that can get very hot in the summer, and could benefit from the shade of a tree. The south side will not get direct sun in the summer, but will be warmer due to reflected heat. This would be the place to have low plants, groundcover, or if you need it, a small patch of turf. In the winter, the south side of your property will benefit from the sun as it's angle is lower in the sky, so you don't want to plant a tree here as it will shade your property in the winter. The east side of a building is a wonderful place to plant just about anything as plants appreciate morning sun and respite from the hot afternoon southwestern sun. North  facing exposures are predominately shady, and don't need plants, but if that part of your property is visible, you will want to use more shade tolerant plants.

Transition Zone
This is the area just outside of your mini oasis. It is an area for plants that need some irrigation. You can use mounding and contouring techniques to direct rainwater to the planted areas as well as micro-basins to catch run-off for use by trees and shrubs. Choose low water using plants for this area.

Desert or Natural Zone
Here, you can either let the natural vegetation provide habitat for wildlife, or you can enhance the natural surroundings by using drought adapted native plants. The emphasis here is to have plants that can survive on rainfall alone. You will also want to use the rainwater harvesting techniques mentioned for the transition zone.

Don't forget that you will need to give your plants in each zone special attention for the first 1-3 years while they get established, even if they are native, low water use plants.

We can Help!  Please contact us at; Sales: 623-848-8277  We serve the entire Phoenix Metro Area.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net