When it comes to creating the perfect garden, there are an array of options to choose from. Among the most popular, beautiful, and eco-friendly gardens available to you is a xeriscaped garden. Our infographic below spells it all out.
Xeriscaping essentially refers to the practice of gardening with plants that require low amounts of water. In dryer cities, xeriscaped gardens are becoming increasingly popular.
Let’s discuss how you can transform your traditional, water-hungry landscape into a xeriscaped garden.
Why Xeriscape?
With more and more people becoming eco-conscious, people are realizing how precious water is. Not only is it a wise thing to do, but it’s also a good financial decision. Regardless of your climate and location, you can create a beautiful xeriscape landscape with local vegetation.
Here’s why you should consider a xeriscape:
- It requires comparatively less maintenance;
- It saves an ample amount of water;
- You don’t need to use pesticides and fertilizers;
- It increases the value and aesthetic of your property;
- It allows natural fauna to inhabit the area.
Top 5 Xeriscaping Ideas
There’s a plethora of ways you can create a beautiful and dynamic xeriscape garden. Let’s take a look at the top 5 ways you can achieve this.
1. Decreasing Your Lawn Size
Transforming your traditional garden into a gorgeous xeriscape garden is a great way to save up to 22,000 gallons of water.
Invest in a hardscape design by adding attractive plantings and elements like birdbaths, rock gardens, fountains, and container paintings.
2. Succulents in a Container
When it comes to xeriscaping, container gardening can seem impossible since the drying soil requires frequent watering.
However, succulents are the perfect solution! Succulents like sedum, cacti, and various other forms require little care and even less water. All they need is a lot of sun.
Consider choosing terra cotta pots as these help retain moisture and are a garden neutral color. You may even choose a resin, ceramic, or clay pot.
3. Choose Drought Tolerant Perennial Plantings for Pollinators
If you’re one of the many gardeners who are concerned about helping pollinators (such as the often-beautiful hummingbirds), consider planting perennials in your xeriscape garden.
Perennials like coreopsis, dianthus, and echinacea are well-loved by pollinators and xeriscapers alike. Plants from the mint and salvia families such as lemon balm, hummingbird mint, May Night, and Caradonna also attract honey bees and hummingbirds.
4. Plant Hardy and Attractive Herbs
Most herbs are drought tolerant and are a great way to add visual beauty and fragrance to your garden. Keep in mind that rosemary, thyme, and lavender are an excellent choice.
5. Use a Shade Garden
Shade gardens are a worry-free zone for water-conscious and eco-conscious gardener’s. This is because most shade plants are drought-tolerant. Ground covers like vinca, Lamium, anc pachysandra are excellent choices.
If you live around a shady woodland area, a good idea is using mulch to retain moisture and protect the roots of the trees. You may even include colorful annuals or sculptures to further beautify your garden.
The Infographic on Xeriscaping
In the following infographic by HomeCity, we discuss more design ideas to create your very own xeriscape garden.
