(gardening) Water Efficient Landscaping.pdf

A F EW L AST T IPS

Water Efficient Landscapin g

Getting Started

Water is just one component of your landscape

planning–but in the arid west, itʼs an extremely

important component. Planning for water efficiency

in your landscape design not only helps the

environment, it also helps you avoid unnecessary

headaches and heartaches over foiled plantings and

disappointing designs.

Create practical turf areas . Lush green lawns can be

beautiful, but they are one of the largest consumers of

water in a landscape. Reducing turf areas or locating

them at the bottom of slopes where they collect runoff

and have proper drainage can significantly reduce

water use. This does not mean all turf areas should be

eliminated. By selecting water efficient varieties and

properly locating turf, it can still play an important

function in the landscape.

More than half of the water consumed by an average

household is used for landscaping. In the summer

months water use can increase by 250%, the majority

of which goes for outdoor watering. Xeriscaping, a

practice based on designing an attractive, sustainable

landscape that minimizes water use and sound

horticultural principles, is one possible solution to this

problem.

Here is a brief list to help you avoid some common gardening pitfalls and make

the most of your water efficient garden:

Use water-efficient plants. A plant list is included

inside this handout. Gardening books and your local

nursery are other good sources for plant suggestions.

Plants native to your local area are often well adapted

to arid conditions and are also good garden candidates.

1. Check sun/shade conditions. Sun patterns vary

with time of day and year.

size and shape. Even drought-tolerant plants,

when new, need a good consistent supply of

water to get started. Once established in the soil,

watering can be reduced.

2. Evaluate soil and improve if necessary. Soil

types can vary within a given site. An

analysis based on random soil sampling can

provide information for plant selection and

soil amendments. If appropriate, natural soil

amendments or compost can improve root

development, water penetration, and retention.

Remember to improve the soil before planting or

installing an irrigation system.

Water efficiently with properly designed irrigation

systems. The irrigation system should be well planned

and managed. Drip or trickle irrigation systems apply

the water where it does the most good: directly to the

soil. This reduces evaporation and and saves you time

now spent watering by hand. Not all plants need the

same amount of water. Group plants with like water

needs together. Also, irrigation needs change with

the season and the weather. Water needs vary with

plant variety, soil conditions, temperature and rainfall.

Needs also change as plants mature.

5. Donʼt overwater! Use a soil probe or your fin-

ger to check for soil moisture below the surface.

The soil in the root zone can be moist even when

the surface appears dry.

Xeriscape is coined from the Greek word Xeros,

which means dry. But unlike the dry unattractive

landscape some people may picture when they hear

the term, xeriscaped, landscapes can be both beautiful

and water efficient. Xeriscaping is an excellent

alternative to a “traditional” landscape, makes wise

use of our water supply, and helps keep your water

bills reasonable.

6. Consider the relationship among plants based

upon their mature sizes and shapes.

7. A garden or yard is personal, so select plants to

display colors, foliage, and flowers that appeal

to you. Foliage, bark, and flower contrast

and seasonal change add beauty to your water

efficient landscape.

3. Promote good drainage. Excess moisture in the

root zone increases occurrence of disease and

pest infestations and promotes root rot.

Whether planning a new landscape or renovating an

old one, following these principles will help you save

water and achieve your gardening goals.

4. Follow proper planting techniques. When

planting, space new plants based upon mature

Use organic mulches to reduce evaporation.

Mulches minimize evaporation, reduce weed growth,

slow erosion, and help prevent soil temperature

fluctuations. When applied at a depth of 3-6 inches,

mulches can be one key to a successful water efficient

landscape.

Plan and design comprehensively . When making

plans for your garden, think about how you use

your yard. Do you entertain guests, need a place for

children to play, want to block an ugly view? Once

you have determined your needs, consider the view,

the slope, sun exposure, placement of structures,

existing vegetation, and the soils of the area. Create a

plan deciding where things will be and when different

areas will be done; Landscapes are often installed in

phases.

For more information please contact your local conservation district or UC Extension (Master Gardeners

chapter). Special thanks to the UC Davis Arboretum, Master Gardeners, and the UC Davis Herbarium.

Practice appropriate maintenance. The quality and

efficiency of the xeriscape will be best maintained

through proper pruning, weeding, and attention to

the irrigation system.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability,

political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for

communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDAʼs TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Groundcovers

Plant List ✵

✵

Juniperus conferta

shore juniper

Helianthemum

sunrose

Cotoneaster dammeri

bearberry cotoneaster

Hypericum calycinum

Saint Johnswort

Ceanothus, prostrate forms

creeping wild lilac

Verbena tenuisecta

moss verbena

Teucrium chamaedrys ʻ Nanum ʼ

creeping wall germander

Baccharis pilularis, dwarf forms

dwarf coyote brush

Juniperus horizontalis ʻ Bar Harbor ʼ

Bar Harbor juniper

Osteospermum

freeway daisy, creeping African daisy

Aptenia cordifolia r Platythyra haeckeliana

red apple ice plant, hearts & flowers ice plant

Arctostaphylos, creeping selections

manzanita

Rosmarinus officinalis ʻProstratusʼand ʻRenzelsʼ

dwarf rosemary

Mahonia aquifolium ʻ Compactaʼ [synonym Berberis aquifolium ʻCompactumʼ]

dwarf Oregon grapeVerbena tenuisecta

Here are a few examples of

water efficient plants. Using

such plants in your landscape

could help improve water use

efficiency.

Check with a local nursery to

see which plants are available

in your area.

Remember to also consider the

overall look of your landscape

before deciding on which plants

to use.

Shrubs

Arctostaphylos

manzanita

Rosa

roses

Pyracantha

firethorn

Syringa vulgaris

common lilac

Cistus

rockroses

Arbutus unedo

strawberry tree

Escallonia bifida [synonym E. montevidensis ]

white escallonia

Feijoa sellowiana [synonym Acca sellowiana ]

pineapple guava

Thuja orientalis & T. occidentalis, shrub forms

shrub arborvitae

Nandina domestica

heavenly bamboo

Punica granatum

pomegranate

Photinia r fraseri

hybrid photinia

Pittosporum tobira

tobira, Japanese mock-orange

Fremontodendron californicum

common flannel bush

Grevillea lavandulacea

lavender-leaf grevillea

Carpenteria californica

bush anemone

Leucophyllum frutescens

Texas-sage

Callistemon citrinus

lemon bottlebrush

Rhaphiolepis indica

Indian hawthorn

Symphoricarpos albus

common snowberry

Lonicera fragrantissima

winter honeysuckle

Heteromeles arbutifolia

toyon, Christmas berry

Nerium oleander

oleander

Cercis occidentalis

western redbud

Cotinus coggygria

smoke tree

Perennials

Broadleaved Evergreens

Deciduous

Rhus lancea

African sumac

Casuarina cunninghamiana

beefwood

Quercus ilex

holly oak

Quercus suber

cork oak

Quercus agrifolia

coast live oak

Laurus nobilis

Grecian laurel

Maytenus boaria

mayten tree

Prunus ilicifolia

hollyleaf cherry

Xylosma congestum

xylosma

Quercus lobata

valley oak

Acer truncatum

Shantung maple

Zelkova serrata

Japanese zelkova

Pistacia chinensis

Chinese pistache

Celtis occidentalis

common hackberry

Quercus douglasii

blue oak

Sapium sebiferum

Chinese tallow tree

Robinia r ambigua ʻidahoensisʼ

Idaho locust

Gymnocladus dioica

Kentucky coffee-tree

Sophora japonica

Japanese pagoda tree

Koelreuteria paniculata

goldenrain tree

Lagerstroemia indica & hybrids

crape myrtle

Eschscholzia californica

California poppy

Achillea filipendulina

fernleaf yarrow

Agapanthus ʻ Peter Pan ʼ

dwarf lily-of-the-Nile

Armeria

thrift, sea pink

Diascia cordata

twinspur

Dietes vegeta

fortnight lily

Eriogonum umbellatum

sulfur flower

Hemerocallis

daylily

Penstemon

beard tongue

Epilobium canum [synonym Zauschneria ]

California fuchsia

Trees

Evergreen Conifers

Calocedrus decurrens

incense cedar

Cedrus deodara

deodar cedar

Pinus canariensis

Canary Islands pine

Pinus contorta

shore pine

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