The following terms: water-wise, drought tolerant, water thrifty, and water smart all refer to plants requiring less water in a managed landscape. We all want to use less water in our landscapes and don’t want to be that house with the ugly brown yard.
Whether you have established landscape or total do-over, take a look at the following Eight Principles of Xeriscape:
1. Plant and Design comprehensively from the beginning.
- Lower your water bill.
Create a more interesting landscape. Plan your annual flower and vegetable gardens and create a planting guide.
- Invite more pollinators into your landscape.
- Don’t just plant and hope for the best
- Create a landscape plan. Identify all the plants in your landscape, their water, sun, and soil needs, and the seasonal maintenance for those plants.
- Record the micro climates in your landscape. Record the plants you add and take out of your landscape and why. Record monthly and annual tasks to remind you when to perform them.
- Develop a fertilization and mulch plan.
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| Legacy buffalo grass lawn in Boise, ID |
You might consider replacing some of the grass with a more planting beds for flowers or vegetables. Don’t forget to check your HOA rules when considering the removal of turf.
Once established, regionally appropriate native and low water use plants require little water beyond the normal rainfall (about 12 inches per year of precipitation in the Treasure Valley with 5 of those inches between April-October. Consider soil type, exposure to sun, and choose the right plant for those conditions.
4. Consider improving the soil with organic matter. Healthy soil retains water and absorbs excess nutrients, Have your soil tested for nutrient content, PH, soil composition and organic matter. The report will give you suggestions for adding anything that is lacking.
5. Strongly consider using organic mulches such as wood chips. Adding mulch controls weed growth and slows evaporation, so conserves water.
6.Irrigate efficiently. Create zones to provide the right amount of water at the right time by grouping plants according to their water needs. Your tree, shrubs, flower and raised beds have different water requirements than your lawn. Consider drip irrigation or soaker hoses for flower beds, shrub and trees. More targeted watering cuts down on weeds and uses less water.
Avoid sprinklers that produce a fine mist or spray high into the air in order to reduce water loss from evaporation and wind. To check your sprinkler output, use tuna cans or similar straight-sided cans placed at various places around your lawn. Run lawn sprinklers for 5 minutes and measure the output. Now calculate the time needed to get 1 inch of water per week on your turf.
Water requirements change often so don’t just set automatic systems and forget them. Review the water requirements often taking into account rainfall, temperature and wind. Adjust the time you water accordingly.
7. Water Harvesting. Direct your roof water into rain barrels or onto your landscape. This recharges Idaho's aquifers as well as irrigating our arid environment. Here's how to build a rain barrel.
8. Maintain your established landscape. Learn how to prune and fertilize each plant in your landscape and record the requirements in your maintenance schedule.
.Consider visiting xeric demonstration gardens in the Treasure Valley area. Hopefully they will inspire you to improve water conservation in your own home landscape.
The Idaho Botanical Garden has several gardens within its footprint, including The Water Wise Garden and The Fire Wise Garden.
These following two links will give you an extensive overview of xeric gardening.