What is “Xeriscaping?
“Xeros” is a Greek word that means “dry.” Xeriscape refers to a landscape that requires little supplemental water. It does not refer to a dry, barren landscape, nor is a Xeriscape a “no maintenance” landscape. The concept of Xeriscape was developed by the Denver Water Department in response to water shortages experienced in the late 1970s. Xeriscape Garden Image Xeriscaping does not mean you have to change the way you live or care for your landscaping. It means reducing water waste that can result from improper irrigation or poor landscape choices. Xeriscape is a means to achieve highly attractive, comfortable landscapes without excessive water use. A well designed landscape plan based on Xeriscape principles can reduce outdoor water use by seventy percent or more. Your landscape is an investment in your comfort and in the value of your property. A good Xeriscape can increase your property value by as much as 15%. You can protect and beautify your landscape investment by drought-proofi
Literally, the word xeriscaping comes from a combination of two other words: “xeri” derived from the Greek word “xeros” for dry; and “scape”, meaning a kind of view or scene. While xeriscape translates to mean “dry scene,” in practice xeriscaping means simply landscaping with slow-growing, drought tolerant plants to conserve water and reduce yard trimmings. The practice of xeriscaping will vary from region to region in California. Plants which are appropriate in one climate may not work well in another. The moist northwest may even be considered inhospitable to sturdy plants of the desert south. Landscapes need to be planned to be compatible with locally available resources, including water, soil types, and sunlight. California’s limited supply of water, subject to ever increasing demands, is just one resource saved by xeriscaping. This results in immediate cost savings through lower water bills. Xeriscaping can reduce the amount of plant trimmings which must be disposed of or otherwis
Xeriscaping is a type of landscaping which is designed to use water extremely efficiently. The concept was originally pioneered in desert regions and areas with low water availability, but has since spread to places with abundant water supplies, along with conservationist philosophies. The goal of xeriscaping is to create a beautiful, natural looking garden which uses water in an extremely efficient way, lowering water bills and reducing the environmental impact of the garden. The term is derived from the Greek xeros, meaning “dry,” and “scape,” for a view or scene. The “dry scene” of a xeriscape is usually anything but boring, since the gardener carefully plans a garden with a profusion of native plants, cacti, and succulents. The end result can range from a spare garden with a great deal of open space and garden rocks to a lush profusion of native plants spilling from terraced beds. Careful planning is required for good xeriscaping. First, the soil is conditioned to help it retain wa
(zer-i-skap-ing) Literally, the word xeriscaping comes from a combination of two other words: “xeri” derived from the Greek word “xeros” for dry; and “scape”, meaning a kind of view or scene. While xeriscape translates to mean “dry scene,” in practice xeriscaping means simply landscaping with slow-growing, drought tolerant plants to conserve water and reduce yard trimmings. Xeriscaping =”xeros” for dry combined with landscaping, thus xeriscaping. The term was coined by the Front Range Xeriscape Task Force of the Denver Water Department in 1981. The goal of a xeriscape is to create a visually attractive landscape that uses plants selected for their water efficiency. Properly maintained, a xeriscape can easily use less than one-half the water of a traditional landscape. Once established, a xeriscape should require less maintenance than turf landscape. Xeriscapes generally require less fertilizer and fewer pest control measures than traditional landscapes. Because pesticides and fertilize
