Xeriscape Gardening

Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

Xeriscape History
Denver water department - 1978 Reduce irrigation Based on sound horticultural principles Also known as water-wise , water efficient, watersaver
TM

Xeriscape - What is it?

Xeri - scape Pronounced zeri-scape
xeri = dry scape = vista

Quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment.

Misconception #1:
Xeriscape means rocks and yucca, or cactus and gravel

Misconception #2:
Xeriscape means no lawns.

Misconception #3:
Xeriscape means dry landscaping only.

Seven fundamentals
1. Plan and design 2. Consider improving the soil 3. Use appropriate plants and zone the landscape 4. Create practical turf areas 5. Consider using mulches 6. Irrigate efficiently 7. Maintain the landscape appropriately

Plan & Design

Begin with a wellthought-out design

Plan & Design

Start with a site analysis . . .
Assess factors that influence water as well as good or bad views

Plan & Design

. . . and inventory
Existing structures, trees, shrubs, and turf areas, etc.

Plan & Design

Consider Budget, Appearance, Function, Maintenance, Water needs

Plan & Design

Refer to local resources

Plan & Design

Plan & Design

Plan & Design

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

Improve 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 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 Landscape

Low water use zones Moderate water use zones High water use zones

Create 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 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 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 Mulches
Mulch Conserves soil moisture Reduces weeds Prevents soil compaction Moderates soil temperatures

Use Mulches

Use Mulches
Organic
Straw, pine needles, bark nuggets, wood chips, sawdust and other wood products

Inorganic
Lava rock, rock, plastic, landscape fabric

Irrigate 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 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 Properly

Healthy plants are more drought tolerant than weak or damaged plants

Maintain Landscape Properly

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

Low Water Use Plants

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

Low Water Use Plants

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

Low Water Use Plants

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

Low 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 Plants

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

Low Water Use Plants

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

Low 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 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 Plants

Annuals
Josephs coat Summer snapdragon Melampodium Cockscomb Cosmos Mexican heather Gazania Gomphrena

Firebush Madagascar periwinkle Sunflower Ornamental sweet potato Lantana Pentas Portulaca/purslane

Low Water Use Plants

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