Gardening Landscaping

Guide to Xeriscape Landscaping

How to use xeriscaping to save water and money in arid climates

Xeriscape garden designed with a variety of grasses and wildflowers

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Xeriscape landscaping, or "xeriscaping," by definition is landscaping designed specifically for areas that are susceptible to drought, or for properties where water conservation is practiced. Derived from the Greek word xeros, meaning "dry," the term means literally "dry landscape." Simply put, xeriscape landscaping is a type of gardening that uses a minimal amount of water to thrive. Though it is practiced in hot and arid climates, xeriscaping has evolved to become useful in many types of climates that need to protect precious water sources. In addition, xeriscaping techniques are often planned with the same landscape design aesthetics as any other type of garden.

Here are essential tips and advice to get started with xeriscape landscaping.

Why Is Xeriscaping Important?

By grouping plants by their water needs, using mulch, and choosing drought-tolerant plants, you will be conserving water usage.

You will also have healthier gardens and landscapes and less need to use fertilizers and pesticides. Consider that everything you do in your yard and garden will eventually affect your water source and from there, any nearby bodies of water. We hear a lot about pollution from industry and factories. These are considered “point sources.” Homeowners and individuals are considered “nonpoint” sources of pollution. While you may not think the fertilizer and bug spray you use on your plants is excessive, the combined runoff from all “nonpoint sources” is considerable.

Xeriscape Benefits

Besides saving water, xeriscape landscaping includes one major factor: the reduction of lawn grass areas since lawn grass is often one of the worst offenders against water conservation. The benefits of eliminating a lawn in favor of a low-maintenance xeriscape include:

  • Saving money on automatic lawn irrigation services and systems
  • Eliminating chemicals and lawn pest control tactics used to upkeep a lush lawn
  • Reducing worries of a browning lawn
  • Needing less labor and time to maintain a lawn when you xeriscape

How to Practice Xeriscape Landscaping

The guiding principles of xeriscaping are practical and not difficult to follow to conserve water. When you are practicing xeriscaping, focus on the critical methods and specific principles that create a successful garden:

Planning and Design

Having a water-wise garden takes planning. Instead of considering aesthetics first, take a look at your garden’s topography, exposure, and soil. Don’t try to fight your site. Create planting zones and group your plants by their needs. For example, group tough, drought-tolerant plants in areas exposed to full-day sun, give less tolerant plants some partial shade, and keep the more delicate or demanding plants for a spot near your water source.

Choosing Appropriate Plants

The practice of xeriscape landscaping does not need to be limited to desert plants, such as cacti and succulents. You can practice xeriscaping with a wide variety of attractive plants that are drought-tolerant and naturally conserve water. Deploy native plants in a xeriscape garden since they are adapted to the local climate and consequently require less human-supplied water. The choice of plants will vary by region, even within a single town or street.

Reducing or Eliminating Turf Grass

Xeriscape landscaping is usually void of turf grass in favor of plantings and ornamental grasses. Areas of lawn are typically transformed into flower beds, hardscapes, or rock gardens. That's because it takes a lot of water, fertilizer, and fuel to keep your lawn green. Consider reducing or eliminating turf grass in your initial design plan. If you want to keep some lawn on your property, choose an appropriate grass seed for the lawn’s exposure. Consider options other than grass, such as drought-tolerant ground covers that are less labor and water-intensive.

Organizing Plants With Similar Needs

Group plants with similar water requirements together. Segregating "thirsty" plants from those that want far less water saves you money and reduces the probability of over-watering less needy plants.

Drip irrigation systems allow you to control when and how much water a plant gets and to direct the water only to the plants that need it. Base your watering schedule on the needs of the plants and not on an arbitrary schedule. All plants will require more supplemental watering for the first year or two that they are becoming established. However after they have acclimated and developed a good root system, supplemental watering should become much less frequent.

Improving the Soil

Well-draining soil is key to successful xeriscape landscaping. Poor dry soil lacks organic matter, which means it can't absorb or drain water well. Drought-tolerant plants do not do well in soggy soil. Those conditions can make even drought-tolerant plants suffer, though some xeriscape-friendly plants may even prefer poor, dry, and rocky soil. It is best to amend your soil before planting by incorporating generous amounts of compost and organic matter to improve water penetration and retention so that it's well-draining. Rich, loose, water-holding soil will encourage good root development and lessen the plant’s need for supplemental water.

Mulching to Hold Moisture

Mulch is a great tool in a water-wise garden. It moderates soil temperature, holds moisture, slows erosion, and suppresses weeds that compete with your plants for food and water. It also gradually decomposes and feeds the soil. Apply about 4 inches of mulch at the initial planting and check it each season to see if it needs to be replenished.

Maintaining Appropriately

Proper watering, weeding, pruning, deadheading, and sensible pest management will all factor into the quality of your garden.

Best Plants for Xeriscapes

Plants most suited to xeriscape landscaping are sometimes referred to as "xeric" plants. These are plants with low water requirements that handle drought well. Of course, drought tolerance is relative. A plant considered drought-tolerant in the northeastern United States might be baked to a crisp in desert country. Keep that consideration in mind as you browse the following selections and resources on drought-resistant plants when planning a xeriscape.

Drought Tolerant Plants

There are many flowers and drought-tolerant ground covers suitable for a xeriscape garden, including the following:

Drought Tolerant Shrubs

Drought-tolerant shrubs fill out a xeriscape garden. This list can help get you started:

Tip

If you are looking for drought-tolerant trees to include in a xeriscape, consider the sunburst honey locust.

Drought Tolerant Grasses

How to Arrange a Xeriscape Flower Bed

Organizing a flower bed for a xeriscape is not difficult. Here's an example:

  • Back row: Bluebeard, which is a tall plant (and, technically, a shrub, but often treated as a perennial), can dominate the back row, where it will not obscure shorter plants. The back row would be the one up against a fence or a house wall. Punctuate the whole ensemble with a focal point created by a tall ornamental grass, such as maiden grass.
  • Middle row: Stagger drought-resistant perennials of intermediate heights, such as moonbeam coreopsis, coneflowers, and 'Autumn Joy' sedum.
  • Front row: Plant mounds of a shorter, drought-resistant ornamental grass (such as blue fescue grass) variety are staggered with lamb's ears to comprise the front row.

Additional Tips for Xeriscape Landscaping

Here are additional recommendations for growing a xeriscape landscaping:

  • Maintain your xeriscape by consistently pulling weeds, deadheading flowers, and eliminating dead plant debris to keep your landscape healthy.
  • Using rain barrels to corral water for your xeriscape is another way to efficiently use nature's resources. You can make a DIY version or buy one that's easy to set up.
  • When watering a xeriscape, do so in the morning when it's cooler. The water won't evaporate as easily as it does under the heat of the sun.
FAQ
  • What is the difference between xeriscape and zeroscape?

    Xeriscape is often mispronounced as "zeroscape," which implies that zero landscaping is necessary. However, there is a loose concept called zeroscape that differs from xeriscape. Zeroscape typically means a yard is filled with hardscaping, rocks, gravel, and dirt instead of plantings.

  • Is xeriscaping cheaper than grass?

    Upon the initial design and implementation of a xeriscape garden, it may seem like xeriscaping is not cheaper than maintaining a lawn. You will see the cost benefits over time as the garden will require almost no watering, as opposed to lawns, which take an enormous amount of watering to keep them alive and growing.

  • What are two disadvantages of using xeriscaping in landscaping?

    There's a lot of labor required to install a xeriscape. Another con of xeriscaping is the sparse or minimalistic look of a landscape that many people may not be used to seeing. In addition, if you plan to sell your home, the lack of a green lawn may deter some potential buyers.