As climate change becomes increasingly more evident and hotter areas of the planet endure growing shortages of water, many gardeners are turning to an alternative landscaping approach that considerably reduces water consumption. Xeriscaping is a strategy that was first proposed by the Denver Water Department in 1981 after they put forward a 7 point plan for designing and implementing gardens where decreased water consumption is the overall objective. The term itself derives from Xeros, the Greek word for Dry, and is often known as Xerogardening or Cactus Gardening, (although it's not restricted to just planting cacti).
There are many advantages to the approach along with utilizing less water. For instance, it's a significantly better use of local resources because it encourages using native vegetation and wild flowers rather than bought in costly varieties. It also is much less time consuming in upkeep terms, which could be a key issue for many people with their hectic modern lifestyles. As a by-product it is usually a less stressful form of gardening as there's much less fear about the garden surviving during periods of water restrictions.
A key component for such a garden is planning it out in advance. The choice of which plants to incorporate in your landscape is clearly one of the most crucial ones. You aren't restricted to Cacti, there are numerous different types of succulents, grasses, wildflowers and turf that can be integrated successfully into your garden.
It might sound unusual to consider turf in your planning as it's a known water guzzler, but there are varieties which have markedly decreased water requirements than conventional lawn turf. One of the important ideas is planting together varieties with similar requirements for shade and water.
Another major component in your garden is what sort of ground cover to use. Turf can still be used, though typically to a lesser and more decorative use than in conventional gardens, and there are many kinds of organic and inorganic mulches that can be utilized to keep roots cool and retain moisture effectively.
A vital part of the planning process is of course how the garden is going to be irrigated. There are several different types of irrigation systems - sprinklers, rotators, drip line and bubble release for example. Which system(s) to go for will depend on your choice of plants and should be researched once your plant list is finalized. One of the most important things to do when irrigating your landscape is to remember to do it irregularly but thoroughly, which will lead to more durable plants with deeper roots.
So, Xeriscaping is an interesting and increasingly common alternative to traditional gardening. It is probably not for everybody - some people will never be able to say goodbye to their expansive lawn, but for those in hotter climates it provides a way of maintaining a good looking garden that is consistent with the local environment and climate.
Author Resource:
Phil Marston is a freelance writer and editor of the Cactus Groove blog site. Click here to visit the site.
2010 by Phil Marston. Article may be reprinted if author credit is given with a website link. All rights reserved.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")