Landscaping requires lots of irrigation, which hurts wallets and the environment. Grass lawns require as much as 10 gallons per square foot per year! A small lawn at 30 feet by ten feet, 300 square feet, would consume 3,000 gallons of water a year. That’s a lot of water!
Xeriscape flowers. Image via Quadell on Wikimedia Commons
Fortunately there’s a way to show good taste in plant selection and landscape design, while still saving money on monthly water bills. Xeriscape landscape designs reduce water consumption by utilizing low water use plants. These low-water plants look beautiful and resist drought, so the landscaping looks great year round, even in the summer.
When done correctly Xeriscape looks just like normal landscaping. Instead of grass lawns, however, planter beds are used. These planters group plants by water consumption, so that each plant gets exactly what it needs and there is little to no waste. Drip systems are also used to reduce water loss from evaporation or over-spray. These planter beds look great next to paver driveways, or as a low use substitute for grass lawns.
Some of the most used plants include lavender, cacti, and agave. Cacti and agave store water in their leaves and stems, so they’re both considered succulents. These visually striking plants make a great investment for landscaping because of their low maintenance needs and ability to survive drought conditions.
Another alternative to grass lawns is artificial turf. This realistic synthetic grass includes thatching for volume and realism, while perforations in the turf backing drains water to avoid flooding. Artificial turf really has nothing to do with Xeriscape, and any gardener worth his salt would reject its use, but fake grass saves our customers a lot of money. That makes it worth consideration in landscaping use for your project. To read more about the water saving benefits of a synthetic lawn read: Artificial Turf: The Key to Water Efficiency →
To learn more about Xeriscape landscape design, or to schedule a free in-home consultation with a design expert, call Genesis at 888.389.5533 or visit our contact page.
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