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Conserve Energy.
Plant Trees!
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| Xeriscape can be
described as a method of landscaping in correlation with our dry, high desert
climate. These landscapes will produce beautiful color, foliage, and
flowers, but will also conserve water. Xeriscape methods can save between
40 and 60 percent of water that is used on traditional landscapes.
Xeriscape is not just paving or rocking your entire yard. There are
literally hundreds of varieties of trees, shrubs, and grasses that can be used
to xeriscape. In fact just rocking and paving can lead to many unwanted
side affects including higher temperatures near your home, high amounts of water
runoff, and it can "kill" the soils that are underneath it. A
properly planned and planted xericscape can turn heads and conserve water. |
7 Steps to a xeric, water
efficient landscape.
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1. Plan a Xeriscape Design.
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Build a plan so the
landscape can be phased as time an money permits.
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Identify sunny and shady
locations.
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Consider the needs of
those people who will use the landscape.
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2. Evaluate and improve the
soil.
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Good soil is very
important, and soil conditions is one of our most limiting factors in
Colorado Springs. A good soil should absorb and retain some water, but
should provide good drainage to allow for oxygen to reach the roots.
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Soil amendments should
be tilled into the existing soils when planting. Recommended soil
amendments include sphagnum peat moss, partly decomposed wood mulch or
humus, or coarse partially decomposed compost. All of these soil amendments
are available in our community. Avoid using; 3 way mix/tri mix, top
soils, native sedge, and fresh manure.
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3. Create practical turf
areas of manageable sizes, shapes and appropriate grasses.
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Turf grass does in fact
require more water than xeric shrubs and trees. However, if planted
with soil amendments and watered deeply, not as frequently, a turf grass
lawn can be sustained during drought conditions. When xeric plants are
established they will require less water than turf grass.
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Turf grass should be
limited to areas where it serves a purpose, and unused areas of turf grass
should be replaced with xeric plantings. Avoid turf grass on sloped
areas where it is hard to water, or low-use, narrow or oddly-shaped
areas. Mulches can be used along sidewalks and streets instead of turf
grass.
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4. Select plants adapted to
our climate and soils, and group them according to water needs.
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This is the fun
part! There are many, many varieties of trees and shrubs that are
considered xeric and do very well in our area. We will provide those
plants to you along with all the information that you need to complete your
xeric oasis. To get to our plants click
here and read the plant descriptions to see its water needs.
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When selecting plants
for your xericscape consider the following; water needs, sun and shade, size
of area, and flower or fall colors, and don't forget to think of your needs
and wants as well.
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You can choose plants
with different heights, flower colors, fall colors, berries, unusual bark,
seeds, and beautiful winter forms.
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WATER DEEPLY AND
INFREQUENTLY
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5.
Water efficiently.
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Group
plants with similar water needs together.
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Choose
an irrigation method (drip system, hose, bubbler, or hand held
container). We recommend a system you can control so some
plants aren't over watered, and some aren't under watered.
It is
not recommended an automatic system is used to water trees and shrubs.
This is because watering conditions will vary from tree to tree, even if
they are just a few feet apart. If you have to use an automatic system
reprogram it as the seasons change. Don't let it run if we have had
sufficient moisture. If you
use a drip system try to water from 9pm to 9am when it is cooler. This
will eliminate evaporation and save water allowing more water to reach the
roots. It
does take some time to get even xeric trees and shrubs to establish.
They will need a little more water the first couple of years until they
establish their root systems, which makes them so tuff. YOU
CAN STILL PLANT THESE TREES DURING A PROLONGED DROUGHT. IT DOESN'T
TAKE AS MUCH WATER AS YOU THINK!
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6. Use mulches to reduce
evaporation.
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Organic mulch (wood
chips) can help trees and shrubs establish and grow in all
conditions.
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Organic mulch helps to
provide a buffer between temperature changes.
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Organic mulch helps to
retain moisture as well as retaining weeds.
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Organic mulch decomposes
over time, in turn improving the soil.
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Mulch around 2"
deep and never put mulch against the trunk of a tree or
shrub. Decomposing matter against a trunk will do just that, DECOMPOSE!
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Make the largest ring of
mulch that you can. The larger the area you mulch the more you will
affect the soil and the roots of that tree. Remember, not deeper, but
wider.
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7. Maintain according to
good horticultural practices.
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This includes proper
fertilization, watering, and weeding. Initially, a xeric plant will
need care similar to that of a traditional landscape, but in a year or two
they are much more water efficient, and in most cases look as good or
better.
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Apply these 7 steps and
enjoy a beautiful landscape that will look good, improve your investment,
and conserve our most valuable natural resource.
Source: Colorado Springs
Utilities, & Colorado Tree Farm Nursery
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Xeric Page
