There has been a lot of interest in xeriscaping and how it can be used to improve a home’s curb appeal. Due to its pronunciation, some people may think that xeriscaping means ‘zero scaping’ or having zero landscaping on a site. This is incorrect. While xeriscaping conserves water, it does involve the creation of beautiful landscaping.

Read on for our brief guide on xeriscapes landscaping and some xeriscape landscaping ideas.

What Is Xeriscape Landscaping

Xeri comes from the Greek word ‘Xeros’ which means dry. So, the term stands for landscaping in an area with little to no water. It is also a practice of landscaping in a way that conserves water.

The first principle of xeriscape landscaping is to use plants that require extraordinarily little water to thrive. You may be thinking that this would limit you to unattractive desert plants and succulents such as cactus. But that is not true. There are a variety of beautiful plants that require little water and can be used to create beautiful landscapes.

What is Xeriscape Landscaping?

The second principle of xeriscapes is to use planting practices that conserve water, e.g. grouping plants with similar water requirements together. This leads to fewer instances of overwatering plants that don’t need a lot of water. Xeriscaping, therefore, not only conserves water but also saves plants from dying due to overwatering.

Xeriscape landscaping also avoids the use of plants that require lots of water. For instance, rather than having lawns need daily watering, one may consider decorating most of their backyard with stones. Here are some paver ideas with xeriscape landscaping.

Another xeriscape practice is to use plants that are native to the area. These save water because the plants are adapted to local climatic conditions and patterns and don’t require as much human supplied water.

In general, xeriscape landscaping is a way to fight drought by saving water.

How To Do Xeriscape Landscaping

In order to successfully create a xeriscape landscape, you need to know what plants to grow, what plants to avoid growing, and how to organize your plants. For your landscape, you will need xeric plants with low water requirements that can withstand droughts well.

You should also consider your climatic conditions. Some plants may do well without water if the climate is cool but may end up drying up in an extremely hot climate. The most popular xeric plants that you can grow on a xeriscape landscape include sunburst honey locust tree, red bird of paradise shrub, Angelina sedum which is a ground cover, zebra grass, and Lewisia, which is a perennial plant.

Xeriscape Landscape Ideas

Here is a xeriscape landscape idea that can be used anywhere in the US. It is for a flowerbed that is 12 feet long by 8 feet deep but can be extended lengthwise. You will need to plant three rows of perennials along the flowerbed. Bluebeard should be planted first at the back of the flower bed. Because of its height, it won’t obscure the sight of shorter plants if planted at the back.  Plant drought-resistant plants of medium heights on the middle rows. Examples include moonbeam, coreopsis, and Autumn Joy sedum. Finally, you will plant grass or ground cover such as blue fescue grass or lambs’ ears at the front of the flowerbed.

Bottomline

Xeriscape landscapes are a great way to conserve water without compromising the beauty of your landscape. Once you have a beautiful landscape you can enjoy the view by installing sliding doors or French patio doors at your home. For more information on how to improve your home such as examples of pool finishes and how to drain a swimming pool, read the rest of our blog.

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