xeriscape-yard-435708866.jpgIf you look at landscaping trends, you may have noticed a lot of people talking about "xeriscaping" in the last few years. The word "xeros" is Greek for "dry," but this type of landscaping is not just about arid, desert climates; it has plenty of applications for your home, too! Here's what you need to know.

What Is Xeriscaping Exactly?

Xeriscaping is about using plants and landscaping techniques to save water. That includes choosing plants that don't need much water to survive, zoning your plants in the right places and at the right levels of "drought tolerance," and mulching your landscaping carefully to prevent water vapor from escaping from the earth. Advanced techniques use soils that hold in moisture and trees that block wind and sunlight. Basically, anything that reduces or eliminates your reliance on sprinklers in the summer months is a part of a xeriscaping plan!

What Can It Help You Accomplish?

This smart method of planting can save you a lot of time and money if your current landscaping requires too much upkeep. Sometimes, plants just aren't worth the water, fertilizer and constant care required to keep them alive. Xeriscaping rose in popularity as an answer to this issue.

Second, this water-saving approach is increasingly important across the country as states look for ways to save money. It has become a popular tactic for city planning, park maintenance, and more--right here in Georgia.

What Sort of Plants Does It Use?

It's a common misconception that xeriscaping focuses only on cacti and other succulents, with a few desert grasses in between. But this landscaping technique actually adopts any native plant known for its hardiness and survival in low water conditions, which means it can work in many different regions and growing zones.

The process can embrace sedums, bushes, many ground covers and a variety of flowers, including forget-me-nots and blanketflowers. When it comes to your lawn, grasses like centipede grass, bahia grass and Bermuda grass are popular drought-tolerant choices, each with their own advantages (although some browning tends to occur in summer).

Should I consider It for My Yard?

Consider xeriscaping if:

  1. You have dry, exposed areas where you struggle to keep plants alive in the summer and need a different strategy.
  2. You want to adopt an easy approach that saves water and money and gives your landscaping a more native, non-invasive look.

Sounds Good! Where Do I Start?

You can begin by researching drought resistant plants and related landscaping, then think about how to incorporate them into your spring/summer projects! Don't try to change everything at once. If you want to start saving water immediately, Inspect-All has an organic lawn program that can help, and we're happy to talk about switching to different grasses to conserve even more.