What is Xeriscaping?

Xeriscape gardens are an eco-friendly solution for homeowners seeking to cut down on both expenses and environmental impact. The architecture of these landscapes fits well within semi-arid climates, particularly in states such as Colorado, New Mexico, and California. The process of xeriscaping can help reduce water usage, lessen the amount of fertilizer and pesticides you need to use to keep your garden in line, and doesn’t always lessen your garden’s fresh, green appearance. 

With so many benefits to xeriscaping, it might seem an obvious choice for your home. However, this type of landscape design is significantly more dependent on the climate of your home state or region, including the amount of rainfall you receive each year. A landscape architect can help you decide if this gardening style is a good fit for your home and can help implement an entirely new arrangement for your outdoor spaces that reduces both the maintenance times and financial costs of keeping your garden green and healthy.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the process of xeriscaping your lawn and identify some plants that are typically a good fit for this type of garden layout. We’ll also look at some of the key benefits and drawbacks of xeriscaping to help identify if this landscaping process is proper for you.

How the Process Works

Xeriscaping is the process of setting your garden and outdoor landscapes to succeed with minimal water and maintenance. It requires selecting the right plants, setting up the soil for success, and usually involves adding non-plant installations that add considerable design appeal, including rocks, gravel, sand, or fountains. Drought-resistant trees, succulents, and cacti are all fantastic choices for a xeriscape. The process of xeriscaping usually works best in areas where these plants are native, such as the American southwest.

Working With a Landscape Architect

Xeriscaping your lawn is a large project that requires, in most cases, at least a few months to complete. Savvy homeowners can assemble xeriscape themselves but usually find it easier to bring professional landscaping support. A landscape architect can complete the entire process of installing a xeriscape for you, optimizing the arrangement of your plants, and selecting centerpieces for your garden that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. It’s typically best to complete this process in the spring, before the summer heat wave hits.

Key Benefits of Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping’s key benefits are simple- the landscape design saves homeowners time and money. In addition, it’s generally considered a more eco-friendly approach to organizing and maintaining your outdoor spaces. Xeriscaping doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the color of your garden. And instead, it simply requires more intentional choices when selecting the individual plants that occupy your outdoor landscapes. 

Reduce Water Usage

The primary benefit of xeriscaping is the ability to reduce your water bills, particularly during the heat waves of summer. You won’t have to worry about watering your xeriscape plants nearly as much as you would a traditional grass lawn. Cutting down on your potable water usage is also a responsible thing to do, as well as a budget-friendly one. 

Preserve Native Plants

Suppose you’re a resident of states like Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or California. In that case, xeriscaping is a chance to implement more plants native to your region rather than the bright green lawns you wouldn’t usually find without human intervention. Plenty of dry-climate plants might fit your space, from sycamores and olive trees to sage, aloe, and cacti. Low-lying succulent plants, sage, lavender, and sunflowers are fantastic choices for boosting the color of your outdoor space. There is also a range of flowers and herbs to choose from when setting up a xeriscape on your property. 

Reduce Fertilizer and Pesticide Usage

In addition to reducing your water usage and restoring more native plants within your space, you’ll find that xeriscaping also makes maintaining your plants and landscape significantly easier. Because your plants are operating in a dryer, more climate-appropriate soil, you’ll find fewer weeds than before. You can also cut back quite a bit on fertilizer and pesticide usage, mainly if you’re using gravel or sand to cover a portion of the garden. The benefits of xeriscaping are simple- you can save time and money while still enjoying the colors and plant life of your garden. 

Potential Drawbacks of Xeriscaping

While the process of xeriscaping includes a wide range of benefits, there are still a few drawbacks you might want to consider before overhauling your lawn. If your native climate does not support xeriscaping, this form of landscaping can hurt more than it can help. Dryer, semi-arid regions are usually optimal for this type of garden. 

Lack of a Lawn

Xeriscape arrangements don’t contain formal lawns or grass. While this setup can reduce maintenance times for your outdoor garden, it can also be a drawback for homeowners who enjoy spending time outdoors in the grass. If a bright green patch of grass for your home is something you’ve always dreamed of, xeriscaping probably isn’t the best fit for you. 

Limited Plant Types

While there is a range of herbs, flowers, trees, and other plants to choose from when setting up a xeriscape, there are certain limitations on what type of plants you can properly support in your backyard. While this might seem like a significant drawback, you’ll probably be surprised to learn that these limitations have little impact on your garden’s color variety. 

Conclusion: What is Xeriscaping?

Xeriscaping is an eco-friendly landscaping technique that cuts down on water usage in your outdoor spaces by up to 70%. It’s an ideal choice for homeowners currently situated in a dryer, semi-arid climate. Example states where xeriscaping might work for your garden include Colorado, New Mexico, California, and Nevada. To learn more about the process of xeriscaping and how it might work on your property, consider speaking with a landscape architect today.