The weather has been going a little crazy the last few years, and each year it seems that more and more of the country is affected by drought conditions. It’s no surprise, then, that drought landscaping (sometimes called xeriscaping) is becoming a hot topic. There are a lot of easy things you can do in your garden to conserve water. A rain barrel under your house gutters is an obvious solution, and one that’s becoming more and more popular (I’ll be installing a 55-gallon barrel at my parents’ house tomorrow). Putting down a thick layer of mulch can help a lot of plants to retain moisture. Many landscapers are recommending less grass, most types of which require a tremendous amount of water. In the place of grass natural areas and planting beds are taking over.
Possibly the best way to save water with little effort is by choosing your plants with water conservation in mind. Many slower-growing perennials need much less water, and can give you just as much beauty. There are also a huge variety of drought-tolerant plants available that, once established, will do wonderfully with almost no irrigation.
Of course, true xeriscaping requires a great deal more than just putting in some drought tolerant plants. The most advanced xeriscaping efforts require rethinking the entire landscaping from the bottom up, using specialty grasses, carefully built gradients to channel water in the appropriate ways, and careful balancing of shade and sun. You don’t, however, have to be an advanced xeriscaper to get real water-saving benefits from your garden this year.