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An adequate supply of high quality water has become a critical issue for the future prosperity of Texas. Lakes that were developed in past decades primarily for enjoyment pass times have now become critical resources for growing cities. Pollution of lakes and streams has become a major concern of governments. The booming populations have increased the demand on the state's already limited supply of high quality water. In addition, seasonal fluctuations in rainfall and periodic droughts have created a feast-to-famine cycle in Texas. The torrid hot summers in Texas have coincided with drought conditions.
In urban areas of Texas about 25 percent of the water supply is used for landscape and garden watering. About 40-60% of the homeowner's property is turf and landscaped area outside the home. Much of this water is used to maintain traditionally high water-demanding landscapes, or it is applied inefficiently which runs up water consumption.
Xeriscape Facts and Figures
These important facts may motivate you to take the Xeriscape plunge:
- Despite the formulation of accepted Xeriscape procedures, more than half the residential water consumption in the US still goes into watering the nation's lawns and gardens.
- Xeriscape gardens consume, on average, seventy percent less water than conventional gardens.
- Converting to Xeriscape reduces your water and general maintenance costs by a whopping fifty percent, or more.
- An efficiently managed Xeriscape garden could significantly increase the value of your property.
- Water conservation aside, converting to Xeriscape also prevents erosion, reduces storm-water runoff and minimizes the environmentally damaging effects of soil expansion.
- Through efficient water conservation, Xeriscape offers long term benefits for the environment, especially in arid, drought-ridden regions of the world.
In an attempt to reduce the excessive water use, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service is educating Texans in Xeriscape landscaping and quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment. Traditional landscapes may incorporate one or two principles of water conservation, but they do not utilize the entire concept to reduce landscape water use effectively. We will cover those principles
Don’t confuse “Xeriscape” with “Zero-scape.” Any landscape can be a Xeriscape if attention is given to conserving water. Xeriscaping is a method, not a style, of landscaping. Home landscapes of rock and cactus are the true “Zero-scapes.”
Xeriscape landscaping incorporates seven basic principles. By incorporating these seven principles it is possible to preserve our most precious natural resource - water. Let's look at these principles.
- Planning and design
- Soil analysis
- Appropriate plant selections
- Practical turf areas
- Efficient irrigation
- Use of mulches
- Appropriate maintenance
The first thought that comes to most every person is that Xeriscape is desert landscapes from New Mexico or Arizona. This type of landscape certainly is efficient on water, but it cannot be further from the Xeriscape concept that if it were talking about propagating tulips.
Xeriscape landscapes need not be cactus and rock gardens. They can be green, cool landscapes full of beautiful plants maintained with water-efficient practices. The same green Texas-style landscape which we are accustomed to can be achieved and still conserve water.
Native plants are those that were always here. They originated in this state and have become at home with the climate. Adapted plants are those that were imported, but have adapted to the climate and growing condition. Non-adapted plants exist here, do not do well, are costly to have and often die.
Many native and adapted plants that have been tested require low water and are pretty much disease and insect resistant.
Planning and design
Creating a water-efficient landscape begins with a well-thought-out landscape design. Sketch your yard with locations of existing structures, trees, shrubs and grass areas. Mark off zone areas on all sides of the house and where sunlight differs. Now observe where the sun is located at various times of the day. Write down the percentage or number of house of direct sunlight that strikes each area. Now you know what areas have things in common and how to select your plants.
Notice in this drawing that 70 percent of the back yard has been converted from turf to landscape. Next consider the landscape budget, appearance, function, maintenance and water requirements. Local landscape architects, designers, nurserymen and county Extension agents can help in making these decisions. Implementing your landscape design should be done gradually over several years if it is a large project. Remember this; if you engage a local landscape architect be sure you understand the cost of the services, what you will receive in return and your options if you do not like the plan that has been presented to you. Also be open to making changes after you have accepted the plan. Consider the following items in your plans.
- Focal point
- Hardscape
- Pathways
- Berms
- Features
Soil Analysis and Preparation
To increase plant health and conserve water, add organic matter to the soil of shrub and flowerbed areas where you plan to install new plants. This increases the soil's ability to absorb and store water in a form available to the plant. As a rule-of-thumb, till in 4 to 6 inches of organic material such as shredded pine bark, peat and rice hulls. For trees, however, incorporating organic matter is not necessary and is really a waste of time. For large turfgrass areas, it is not economically feasible.
Plant Selection
Select trees, shrubs and groundcovers based on their adaptability to your region's soil and climate. Texas is blessed with an abundance of beautiful native plants that are naturally adapted to the region. Most have lower water demands, fewer pest problems and less fertilizer needs than many nonadapted, exotic plants brought into Texas landscapes.
Through the support of the nursery industry, native Texas plants are becoming more available in retail nurseries and garden centers. Combining Texas natives with well-adapted exotic plants is a key to a beautiful, interesting landscape that conserves water. Refer to the tables in this publication, and check with your local nursery or county Extension agent for recommendations on adapted landscape plants for your area.
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Outstanding Landscape Plants for Texas Xeriscape
For minimum care, maximum color, the following drought tolerant and borderline drought tolerant plants are perfectly suited to Xeriscape landscaping:
- Trees: Live oak, mesquite, wax myrtle, yaupon holly, American plum, boxelder maple, chokecherry, Colorado spruce, crape myrtle, dwarf conifer, hackberry, hawthorn, juniper, soapwood, spruce.
- Bushes and shrubs: Wedelia, ginger, cast iron plant, holly, fern, sage, American beautyberry, lilac, oleander, olive, palm, sage, winecups, coral bean, hibiscus Scotch pine, skunk bush, viburnum, wax myrtle, willow, 'Texas Gold' Columbine, yucca.
Of these there are plants to Attract Butterflies: Indian Blanket, Mistflower, Passionflower, Fall Aster, Gayfeather, Copper Canyon Daisy, Purple Coneflower, Mexican Butterfly Weed. Plants to Attract Hummingbirds: Purple Lantana, Trumpet Creeper, Autumn Sage, Firebush, Cape Honeysuckle, Turks Cap 'drummondii', Mexican Heather, Mealy, Blue Sage, Texas Mountain Laurel, Esperanza, Big Muhly
- Drought resistant grasses: buffalo grass, fescue, maiden grass, Mexican feather grass, purple fountain grass, and pampas grass.
- Rock plants, flowers, ground cover: amaranthus, baby's breath, butterfly weed, day lily, lamb's ears, purple coneflower, Russian sage, yarrow. Rosemary, mint.
Grass Selection
When considering a landscape's water requirement, it is important to note that turf grasses require more frequent watering and maintenance than most other landscape plants. Carefully select grass according to its intended use, planting location and maintenance requirements.
Buffalograss Best
Common Bermudagrass 2
Zoysiagrass 3
Hybrid Bermudagrass 4
St. Augustinegrass 5
Tall Fescue Least
St. Augustinegrass and bermudagrass are most often used for lawns in Texas. You were surprised by how Common Bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass came up on the list weren't you? Zoysiagrass, buffalograss and centipedegrass are used less often but offer much promise for landscape water conservation.
Grasses available for use in Texas lawns vary significantly in water requirements. Planting the lowest water use turfgrass adapted to the region is an effective way to reduce landscape irrigation requirements.
A significant reduction in water consumption and landscape maintenance can be accomplished by reducing the size of water-sensitive lawns through the use of patios, decks, shrub beds and groundcovers.
Also, when designing or evaluating turfgrass areas in the landscape, consider the ease or difficulty in watering the proposed area. Long narrow areas and small odd-shaped areas are difficult for any irrigation equipment to efficiently water as contrasted to more square areas.
Efficient Irrigation
Of the tremendous amounts of water applied to lawns and gardens, much of it is never absorbed by the plants and put to use. Some water is lost to runoff by being applied too rapidly, and some water evaporates from exposed, unmulched soil; but, the greatest waste of water is applying too much too often. For this reason using the automatic setting on the sprinkler system to water every few days is not always the best option.
Over watering also leaches nutrients deep into the soil away from plant roots and off into the streets, increasing the chances of polluting groundwater. Similarly, runoff caused by excess irrigation can carry polluting fertilizers and pesticides to streams and lakes. The waste or pollution of high quality water through inefficient irrigation practices can be eliminated through proper watering techniques.
Lawns
Most lawns receive twice as much water as they require for a healthy appearance. The key to watering lawns is to apply the water infrequently, yet thoroughly. This creates a deep, well-rooted lawn that efficiently uses water stored in the soil.
To know when to water the lawn, simply observe the grass. Wilting and discoloration are signs of water stress. At the first sign of wilting, you have 24 to 48 hours to water before serious injury occurs. Apply 1 inch of water to the lawn as rapidly as possible without runoff. Watering only when needed and watering thoroughly produces a deep-rooted lawn that is more water efficient and drought enduring.
Trees and Shrubs
All trees and shrubs need more frequent watering from planting time until becoming well rooted, taking up to two growing seasons. Once established, plants can then be weaned to tolerate less frequent watering that develops deep roots and makes the plants more drought enduring.
As with lawns, water established trees, shrubs and groundcovers infrequently, yet thoroughly. You need one watering method for the lawn and a completely different plan for trees and shrubs. By zoning an irrigation system, grass areas can be watered separately and more frequently than groundcovers, shrubs and trees. Both sprinkler and drip irrigation can be incorporated to achieve water conservation in the landscape.
The feeding root system of a tree or shrub is located within the top 12 inches of the soil and at the "drip line" of the plant. The drip line is the area directly below the outermost reaches of the branches. Apply water and fertilizer just inside and a little beyond the drip line, not at the trunk. Simply lay a slowly running hose on the ground and move it around the drip line as each area becomes saturated to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. For large trees, this watering technique may take several hours.
Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler irrigation is the most commonly used method of landscape watering. The two most common types of sprinkler irrigation systems are the hose-end sprinkler and the permanent underground system. Even though a permanent sprinkler system can be more water efficient than a hose-end sprinkler, both systems require little maintenance and apply large volumes of water in a short time.
Water between early morning and mid-morning to avoid excessive waste through evaporation and to avoid water staying on foliage overnight that causes powdery mildew.
Use of mulches
Pine mulch decomposes faster than other mulches because it is a softer wood. Cedar, hardwood, and Cyprus mulch can also be as sufficient. Your first consideration is to have a covering on the soil that prevents evaporation and root scorch from the hot sun. Most of these come in shredded or nugget choices of different sizes. Some are available in colors, red being the most predominate. Colored mulch has no adverse effect on the plants or soil.
Appropriate maintenance
A garden landscape that is "Xeriscape-compliant" is very easy to maintain, in terms of time, effort and cost.
An added benefit of Xeriscape landscapes is less maintenance. A well-designed landscape can decrease maintenance by as much as 50 percent through reduced mowing; once-a-year mulching; elimination of weak, unadapted plants; and more efficient watering techniques.
Pruning, weeding, proper fertilization, pest control and irrigation system adjustments all conserve water.
Written by Derald Freeman, TCMGA Master Gardener. Credits provided at top of this article.
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