Xeriscaping in your home garden

What is xeriscaping?

Literally, the word xeriscaping comes from a combination of two other words: "xeri" derived from the Greek word "xeros" for dry; and "scape", meaning a kind of view or scene. While xeriscape translates to mean "dry scene," in practice xeriscaping means simply landscaping with slow-growing, drought tolerant plants to conserve water and reduce yard trimmings.

California's limited supply of water, subject to ever increasing demands, is just one resource saved by xeriscaping, thus resulting in immediate cost savings through lower water bills. Additionally, xeriscaping can reduce the amount of plant trimmings that must be disposed of or otherwise managed, thereby helping your community, and ultimately you, to save resources. A reduction in plant trimmings can reduce the amount of labor needed to maintain a given landscape. Or, put another way, reduced plant maintenance allows more time to be spent on other aspects of landscape maintenance, or on another landscape project.

Xeriscapes generally require less fertilizer and fewer pest control measures than traditional landscapes. Seeing as pesticides and fertilizers can inadvertently harm beneficial organisms as well as impact air and water quality, reducing their use is a good idea. And, of course, using less of these materials saves money.

Now, while indigenous plants are naturally accustomed to local climates and therefore good choices for water and waste efficient landscapes, xeriscaping doesn't mean one is limited to planting California native plants only. For example, one could draw from many available colorful drought tolerant plants native to other "Mediterranean" climates such as Southern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, South Africa, and Australia. There are many excellent books that provide further information on this subject, as well as a growing number of nurseries that specialize in xeriscape plants.

Remember, xeriscaping:

* Conserves water
* Provides lots of attractive planting options
* Presents minimal pest and disease problems
* Thrives with little fertilization
* Requires low pruning and maintenance
* Saves valuable landfill space

Do your part by designing, installing, or converting landscapes to be low waste, water efficient, easily maintained xeriscapes.