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10 Tips on Water-Wise Landscaping

Xeriscape & Waterwise Gardening Hits: 5428

In today’s time, shortage of water is one big concern for mankind and it is therefore essential to conserve this valuable resource.

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This is even more of a concern for Southern California home owners and those living in San Diego where water scarcity has become a huge concern and being water-wise landscaping is not only a social responsibility but a mandatory requirement.  

Due to faulty designs and lack of proper planning, large amount of water is wasted in our own gardens. This can be avoided to a large extent by applying some of the useful landscape design tips, proper use of equipment, correct landscape design, right selection of plants, use of suitable soil, etc. If every individual makes a little effort and planning on his or her part then a large amount of water can be saved.

Being water wise ensures that plants always receive enough water to thrive. A successful xeriscape garden uses water-wise plants and limited water, not because it skimps on planting but, it makes wise plant choices and wise use of plants. Equally important is another goal, to eliminate water wastage that can occur when plants are over watered and, water is squandered in runoff or evaporation.

So, without further due, here are the 10 Tips on Being Water Wise:

1. The most critical and important water wise gardening tip of all is to no lawn landscaping area completely or minimize lawn area so that you use the least amount of water for your lawn.

2. Save water with proper landscape design. The garden layout should be such that it will use water as efficiently as possible with proper zoning of the plants. This ensures that you place the plants that are big water users together where you can water them without waste, and place the lighter water using plants together elsewhere, where irrigation will be minimal.
 
3. Use of the two most efficient irrigation systems such as underground sprinklers and drip irrigation with a controller or timer that regulates the amount of time you water your garden or your lawn. 
 
4. Proper soil management because soil not merely serves anchor for plant roots, it also serves as a reservoir for water and nutrients. Amending the soil improves its texture, allowing better water and root penetration.

5. Water can be saved by use of mulches. Mulches cover and cool the soil, minimize evaporation, reduce weed growth and soil erosion. Organic mulches examples are tree bark, chips, wood grindings, lawn clippings, and garden compost. Inorganic mulches are weed barrier cloth, rock and gravel products.
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6. Get rid of weeds completely because they’re stealing water from any ornamental plants.
 
7. Plants growing in containers need more water than similar ones growing in the ground due to their limited root systems and exposure to heat and wind. So, lengthen the intervals between needed watering, using large and nonporous containers.
 
8. Water in the early hours before sunrise or water later after sunset. Choose one and not both but, water deeply and thoroughly.
 
9. Eliminate water runoff by adjusting the sprinkler heads so that they cover the optimum amount of area.
 

10. Change water schedules seasonally so that you water less frequently during the cooler months of the year.

Thus by applying proper landscape design ideas and periodic maintenance practices such as mulching, weed and pest control, fertilizing, and selecting the right time and types of the plants every garden can conserve large amount of water. Your garden can certainly be beautiful without being thirsty by ensuring that water wastage is eliminated.

Roxanne is an award winning residential landscape designer and her company Forget-Me-Not Landscape Design is a San Diego landscape design company has been improving the value of Southern California homes by making beautiful and creative landscaping. She specializes in Modern Zen Garden and Xeriscape landscape design with emphasis on water smart gardening, low maintenance, sustainable urban landscape designs for Southern California home owners. You can visit her website at www.singinggardens.com.