Explanation of Xeriscape
When many people think about xeriscape, they think of a yard
full of rocks that’s devoid of plants. That couldn’t be
further from the truth.
Xeriscape is all about
an all natural landscape that extensively uses natural
vegetation, instead of unnatural, resource intensive
vegetation. It’s about harnessing the natural beauty of the
environment while rejecting the plants, fertilizers and the
chemicals that harm the local environment.
Going back even 15 years
ago, xeriscape was relatively unknown. The typical desert
home would have a grassy yard that sucked up large
quantities of scarce water. With so many grassy yards, the
climate of big cities like Las Vegas was noticeably affected
by the use of grassy yards. Instead of people adapting to
the desert lifestyle, homeowners wanted to recreate
Minnesota.
With water becoming a
less plentiful and more expensive resource, some homeowners
started to turn to a way of landscaping that is more in tune
with the local environment, but still maintaining a
beautiful environment.
Instead of using plants
native to other parts of the country, xeriscapers use the
plants that are native to the local area to create a
beautifully landscaped yard. With the right kind of
xeriscaping, you can combine all of the local elements to
create a unique and stunningly beautiful yard.
Before you embark on a
xeriscaping project, it’s important to know that you are
creating a beautiful yard that uses native plants. While low
water usage is a benefit of xeriscaping, it’s not the
ultimate goal of a xeriscape. Native plants do use less
water, but they bring a beauty and simplicity to the yard
that you can’t get otherwise.
As you begin your
xeriscaping project, it’s helpful to take a look at the
local plants and flowers. By knowing what’s available, you
can begin to picture how your yard will look. Take some
pictures of the different plants in the local area and print
them out. Don’t be afraid to look for local parks that have
xeroscaped areas.
Go to your local library
for your local plant and flower xeriscape information. Your
local county land maintenance office is also a great
resource for information on local plants that would fit into
your xeriscaping project.
With a good selection of
pictures you took when you were fact finding, mix and match
the pictures on a table to see which plants match and
complement each other.
Once you know which
plants you want to use, you can take out a pad of paper and
make some sketches of the end result. You are now ready to
put your Xeriscaping ideas into place. On your first
xeriscaping project, you will want to have the time
available to experiment with the placement of the plants for
maximum natural beauty; OR SIMPLY CONTACT US BEFORE YOU
START.
