In dry climates, planning your landscape can be challenging. Xeriscaping is the method of designing a landscape to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation, a perfect choice for arid climates. This allows you to take advantage of the natural climate rather than work against it. Colorado’s climate is a perfect candidate for this style of landscaping, and in fact, Denver was one of the first urban areas to support xeriscaping. Here are some benefits of xeriscaping and why it might be a good fit for you.
Less Water
Xeriscaping incorporates plants that are native to dry, desert climates and don’t require much water. We all know it takes a lot of water to support those green, luxurious lawns. Imagine how much water you would save if you removed your lawn completely? Drought-tolerant plants still require some light watering, making them ideal for a drip irrigation system. Supporters of xeriscaping say it can reduce water use by 50 or 75 percent, making it an environmentally beneficial choice.
Less Maintenance
Watering isn’t the only thing you can say goodbye to. Tired of mowing and edging your lawn? Xeriscaping incorporates rock, gravel, and mulch to define your borders and paths, demanding less weekly maintenance and giving you more time to enjoy it. Mulch is a great material to use as it slows evaporation of water and helps reduce weeds. You will also spend less time tending to annuals which bloom seasonally.
Creative
Most people associate grassy lawns and shrubs to the front yard, but xeriscaping can be a creative challenge. There are many materials you can use to fill areas in your yard like rock, mulch, and sand. These materials allow you to customize your yard with sitting areas or paths. A drought-tolerant landscape doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice head-turning plants either. Many varieties, like lavender, beard tongue, aloe, cacti, and fountain grass make great candidates for defining borders and drawing in the eye. Spend some time online browsing some xeriscaping ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Save Money
As previously mentioned, grass uses a great amount of water resulting in a higher water bill. Plants that don’t like Colorado’s dry climate will require watering daily, bumping up that water bill even more. Xeriscaping doesn’t come without it’s expense, but once you are finished designing your landscape, the cost of maintenance will be drastically lower than before.
If you are looking for landscaping ideas that can save you money, conserve water, and require less maintenance, xeriscaping could be right for you. If you are just getting started, send us pictures of your progress and we will include them on our blog. If you already have a drought-tolerant landscape, show us the plants you chose and share with us some tips you’ve learned along the way.