Low-water Landscaping Solutions

Water is the greatest natural resource. Without water, there is no life. You might be aware of this fact and have installed water-conservation equipment in your homes, such as low-flow toilets or aerated bath heads. In the United States, however, outdoor water usage accounts for approximately 30 percent of residential water consumption. This amounts to approximately 58,000 gallons of water per household per year. The majority of it is used for irrigation and gardening.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money or water to have a beautiful yard. Low-water landscaping solutions are available based on your locality. This allows you to have lush green lawns and gardens that will last for years and help you save water and money.

Why do you plant low-water landscaping?

It is obvious that the main reason to plant low-water landscaping is to reduce watering costs. However, there are many other benefits.

• Higher curb appeal may lead to a higher home price.
• Conservation of natural resources and less energy consumption
• Conservation of habitats for native wildlife
• Lower landscaping labor and maintenance cost

Low-Water Landscape Design

These tips will ensure your success, no matter if you are planning to create a new landscape from scratch or improve an existing one.

• Choose native plants: Native plants are the best option for a low-water landscape. They are more suited to the climate and soil of their area, so they only require minimal water once established. They don’t require fertilizer and are more resilient to local diseases and pests than some other plant species. We can help select native plants for your region.

• Choose your turf carefully: Grass uses more water than other landscaping types. You can replace your lawn with low-water plants. Select the appropriate grass for your play area: Bermuda and Buffalo grasses, bluegrass, and Fescue. Optional replacements for turf grass include evergreen and moss groundcover.

• Be aware of the site conditions. The microclimate in your yard can affect what plants you can plant. You must consider the following: sunlight, wind, moisture, and evaporation.

• Plants with similar water needs should be grouped: Create hydro-zones in your yard to avoid over- or underwatering. You should keep drought-tolerant annual flowers, such as pink jasmine or dwarf heather, away from exotic ones that require more water.

Encourage a healthy soil.

Low-water gardens will thrive when the soil conditions permit it.

You can test the soil by using a soil test kit. This will allow you to determine pH levels, soil composition, organic matter content, and nutrient content. You may be able to determine which plants will work best in your yard based on the results.

Add soil amendments: Soil amendments are useful for improving the growth conditions of soils that are particularly heavy, sandy, nutrient-deficient or pH-extreme. You can use lime, peat or compost as soil amendments.

Aeration is when soil becomes compacted, which can reduce the amount of oxygen that can reach roots. Aeration reduces runoff by improving nutrient delivery and water absorption.

Mulch can be used to surround trees, shrubs, or flower beds. This will slow down evaporation, discourage weeds, reduce soil temperature, and decrease erosion. You can use bark chips or wood grindings, pine straws or gravel.