Xeriscape GardeningXeriscape Gardening

Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

Xeriscape HistoryXeriscape History

• Denver water department - 1978• Reduce irrigation• Based on sound horticultural principles• Also known as water-wiseTM, water

efficient, watersaver

Xeriscape Xeriscape -- What is it?What is it?

• Xeri - scape• Pronounced “zeri-scape”

– xeri = dry– scape = vista

• Quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment.

Misconception #1:Misconception #1:

• Xeriscape means rocks and yucca, or cactus and gravel

Misconception #2:Misconception #2:

• Xeriscape means no lawns.

Misconception #3:Misconception #3:

• Xeriscape means dry landscaping only.

Seven fundamentals

1. Plan and design2. Consider improving the soil 3. Use appropriate plants and zone the landscape4. Create practical turf areas5. Consider using mulches6. Irrigate efficiently7. Maintain the landscape appropriately

Plan & DesignPlan & Design

• Begin with a well-thought-out design

Plan & DesignPlan & Design

• Start with a site analysis . . .– Assess factors that

influence water as well as good or bad views

Plan & DesignPlan & Design

• . . . and inventory– Existing structures,

trees, shrubs, and turf areas, etc.

Plan & DesignPlan & Design

• Consider-– Budget,– Appearance,– Function,– Maintenance,– Water needs

Plan & DesignPlan & Design

• Refer to local resources

Plan & DesignPlan & Design

Plan & DesignPlan & Design

Plan & DesignPlan & Design

• Hard surfaces and the use of heat barriers– Shade– Organic materials– Fences or hedges– Control air

movement

Improve SoilImprove Soil• Add organic matter to soil of shrub and

flower beds– Improves plant health & conserves water

• By absorbing and storing water in a form available to plants

• Till in 4 inches of organic material• Not practical for trees and grass areas

Use Appropriate Plants and Zone LandscapeUse Appropriate Plants and Zone Landscape

• Use native plants when possible

• Well-adapted exotic plants may also be used

• Drought tolerant does not mean “plant and forget”

Use Appropriate Plants and Zone LandscapeUse Appropriate Plants and Zone Landscape

• Low water use zones

• Moderate water use zones

• High water use zones

Create Practical Turf AreasCreate Practical Turf Areas

• Turf areas should be based on life style, site conditions, and water needs

• Traditional turf areas require more water

Create Practical Turf AreasCreate Practical Turf Areas• Turfgrasses vary in their need for

irrigation– Fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass (use the most

water)– Hybrid bermudas like Tifway– Zoysiagrass– Common bermudagrass, U-3– Buffalograss (uses the least water)

Create Practical Turf AreasCreate Practical Turf Areas

• Consider:– Reducing the size of water-sensitive

lawns through the use of patios, decks, shrub beds and groundcovers

– The ease or difficulty of watering the proposed area• Long narrow and small odd-shaped areas are

difficult to irrigate efficiently

Use MulchesUse Mulches

Mulch • Conserves soil moisture• Reduces weeds• Prevents soil compaction• Moderates soil temperatures

Use MulchesUse Mulches

Use MulchesUse Mulches

• Organic– Straw, pine needles, bark nuggets, wood

chips, sawdust and other wood products• Inorganic

– Lava rock, rock, plastic, landscape fabric

Irrigate EfficientlyIrrigate Efficiently

• Efficient irrigation systems can save a lot of water

• Efficient systems include– Soaker hoses, trickle, drip

• Overhead irrigation is inefficient

• Zone irrigation systems

Irrigate EfficientlyIrrigate Efficiently• Determine how much

water is needed and how often each watering zone needs watering.

• Determine how long to water.

• Determine how fast to water.

Maintain Landscape ProperlyMaintain Landscape Properly

• Healthy plants are more drought tolerant than weak or damaged plants

Maintain Landscape ProperlyMaintain Landscape Properly

• Proper mowing• Proper fertilizing• Proper pruning• Properly timed pest control• Avoid mechanical damage• Periodic checks of irrigation system

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants• Large trees

– Caddo sugar maple– Hackberry– Ginkgo– Kentucky coffeetree– Oaks– Bald cypress– Lacebark elm– Japanese zelkova

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants

• Medium trees– Arizona cypress– Eastern red cedar– Chinese pistache– Western soapberry– Cedar elm

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants

• Small trees– Shantung maple– Oklahoma redbud– Desert willow– Winterberry euonymus– Pinyon pine

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants

• Shrubs - small– Glossy abelia– Deciduous holly– Winter jasmine– Junipers– Nandina– Spirea

• Shrubs - medium– Rose of Sharon– Crape myrtle– Shrub roses– Sumac

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants

• Shrubs - large– Smoke tree– Crape myrtle– Silverberry elaeagnus– Yaupon holly– Arborvitae– Vitex

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants

• Vines– Crossvine– Trumpet vine– Silver lace vine– English ivy– Virginia creeper– Boston ivy– Climbing rose

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants

• Groundcovers– Hardy ice plant– Junipers– Liriope– Creeping phlox– Stonecrop sedum– santolina

• Ornamental grasses– Pampas grass– Plume grass– Maiden grass– Japanese silver grass– Zebra grass– Giant reed grass– Switch grass– Fountain grass

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants• Perennials

– Yarrow– Wormwood– Blue mist spirea– Plumbago– Shasta daisy– Coreopsis– Coneflower

– Gaillardia– Gaura– Daylily– Bearded iris– Russian sage– Black-eyed Susan– Autumn sage– Verbena

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants

• Annuals– Joseph’s coat– Summer snapdragon– Melampodium– Cockscomb– Cosmos– Mexican heather– Gazania– Gomphrena

– Firebush– Madagascar periwinkle – Sunflower– Ornamental sweet

potato– Lantana– Pentas– Portulaca/purslane

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants• Annuals

– Mexican bush sage– Dusty miller– Purple heart– Marigolds– Mexican sunflower– Zinnia– Mexican zinnia