Landscape Design aspects to consider
Waste-free watering and fertilizer application. Cutting out patches of lawn in your landscape will minimize the time and application of water and fertilizer necessary for healthy turfgrass.
Landscape in manageable areas. You don’t have to renovate your entire landscape at once. Consider redesigning specific areas that are high traffic, major focal points or have more noticeable curb appeal. You may also want to designate certain garden areas specifically for native species.
Replace existing lawn with maintenance-free groundcover or seasonal gardens. You don’t always need a huge lawn to cover your landscape. Consider creating garden spaces or borders around drives and walkways to cut out unnecessary lawn maintenance. Also consider a native groundcover that will keep your yard looking green year round.
Group plants with specific watering zones. Right plant right place. Group plants according to light and watering requirements. Certain plants may require more sun or shade and should be placed in appropriate zones.
Install a drip irrigation system. If you must have an irrigation system you may want to research a more efficient way of irrigating plants with drip irrigation. Water is applied at consistent and effective levels ensuring all plantings within the drip system line will be watered thoroughly. For the first week of installation, monitor the accuracy of your drip system, then layer mulch on top of the drip system. The drip system should also be flushed a couple times each year before critical watering seasons begin.
Landscape with native or drought tolerant plants.
Results may not be immediately visible but given time and monitoring, you will reap the rewards of a thriving xeriscape. Remember some plants require the same amount of care and monitoring until they are well established and have grown vigorous root systems. You should see results within three growing seasons and by the third year a well established landscape. Be sure to trim back any excess shoots or dead foliage allowing new growth to appear. Pruning and dead-heading should be completed during the spring or summer and any dead foliage should be removed at the end of winter. Your yard may need watering during the winter every four to six weeks.
If all this work seems out of your range, contact Green Biz Nursery and connect with one of our landscaping or lawn maintenance professionals