Xeriscaping Your Flower Garden

Xeriscaping Your Flower Garden

by

Marilyn Taylor

There are no set steps that define Xeriscaping; rather, there are many optional actions that gardeners can take to try and use water as efficiently as possible. The Denver, Colorado Water Utility defined seven principles of Xeriscape gardening, which have been widely adopted.

Plan and Design Take the time to plan out your gardening space and create zones where you group plants and flowers with similar water needs. Put the hardiest plants in the sunny spots and the most sensitive plants near your main water source.

Soil The health of your flowers will likely reflect the health of your soil. Choose the appropriate soil for your plants and make sure to add plenty of compost for nutrition and mulch to prevent water evaporation.

Irrigation Try to set up the most efficient irrigation system possible and only water each zone of flowers to their needs. Some of the most efficient irrigation methods are sprays, drip lines or bubbler emitters. Costs vary on setting up these systems. There are also irrigation systems that automate watering based on daily temperature and weather.

Plants Perhaps the most important principle, your plants and flowers will determine the water needs of your garden. In the Southwest it is particularly important to choose appropriate plants that can thrive in a low-water environment.

Mulch Mulch helps trap water in soil and prevents the evaporation of surface water. It keeps soil moist, which helps plants stay healthy without as much required water. Mulch also keeps weeds away. We recommend using organic mulches, such as bark chips, pole peelings or wood grindings.

Alternative Turf The majority of lawns are Kentucky bluegrass, which requires a lot of water and doesn t grow well in sandy or rocky soils. Consider alternative, less thirsty turf, such as buffalo grass or blue grama, which require about a quarter of the water as Kentucky bluegrass.

Maintenance Every good flower gardener knows that planting the bulbs is only the beginning. Your flowers and all of your plants need care and maintenance throughout their lifecycle. Pruning helps promote big blooms and controls height and spread.

At EasyToGrowBulbs.com, we sell flowers and plants for warm weather gardens that respond well to Xeriscaping.

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