Xeriscape DesignPlanning your garden to be water wise is the most important part of xeriscape design, second only to focusing on your xeric garden style. Xeriscaping is a word meaning xeri - dry, and 'scaping - landscaping. In unreliable climatic conditions of changing rainfall and drought patterns it's getting more and more important to be pro-active and design for any eventuality. Rainfall can be sporadic or non-existent, or go the other way entirely and be of monsoon-like proportions. Water Requirements.Positioning those plants that require more water near the house or a hose bib, will make them easier to care for. Plant in zones, so that the plants that need more moisture are clustered together. It makes sense to group them ecologically, as you can tailor the soil, mulch, and irrigation to fit their needs.Rain gardens are a perfect way to ease the burden on the garden hose, and the gardener. Place high water demanding plants in a contained area where they will be watered by rainfall directed off your roof. This means you can still grow those plants that need more moisture, but they'll be much easier to care for. Further away from the house in ever increasing circles can be those plants that either don't require high moisture levels, or will die if over watered. Hardscaping...and grading also play a key role in developing the xeric garden.
Hardscaping refers to those elements in the design that are not plants. Patios, walkways, decks and retaining walls are typical examples. Grading to change the way water flows across your land will eliminate standing water which will attract mosquitoes, or water that cascades into your basement. Building swales (a low ditch) or berms (slightly raised areas) to direct run-off will go a long way to making your design more workable, and your garden more enjoyable. Using these general principles in designing your xeriscape can be challenging, but the end goal is to make it easier to have a beautiful garden with less maintenance and water input.
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