Posted by San Diego Landscaper on Wednesday, 15 June , 2022
The current water shortage is reviving interest in gardening methods that use little to no irrigation. The term for this type of landscaping is “xeriscaping” (sometimes called “xeroscaping.”) Xeriscaping allows landscape designers to create beautiful outdoor spaces that need no irrigation, with plants that can survive only on rainfall or with very occasional hand watering.
Because xeriscaping is rising in popularity, this is a good time to learn the principles involved in this type of landscaping. Knowing the five rules of xeriscaping will help you plan your outdoor spaces mindfully and use less water.
The Five Rules of Xeriscaping
There are five basic rules for xeriscaping that allow designers and homeowners to plan, plant, and maintain beautiful outdoor spaces. These rules are:
Start with the right soil. The type of soil in which you grow your plants will, in large part, determine how much water you use. You can choose the right, drought-resistant plants, but destroy your efforts if your soil is not properly prepared or maintained. In general, xeriscaping requires soil that can capture and hold on to moisture in order to prevent drying out and the need for constant watering. In addition, the soil must be maintained at the proper pH level to keep plants healthy. Stressed plants often require more water when compared with healthy plants.
Reduce “thirsty” plants and growth. Choosing the right plants is one of the most important aspects of xeriscaping. Within any plant family, there are usually varieties that require a great deal of water, and others that use less. Furthermore, some types of plants, such as succulents, have a natural ability to store water, making them perfect for xeriscaping yards.
Water efficiently. Watering properly, when watering is required, is one of the most crucial elements in saving money and resources. Often, broadcast sprinkling or spraying is not the best way to water plants. Instead, an integrated drip watering system or hand-watering with a can will often use much less water and will cut down tremendously on waste.
Mulch properly. Many people understand how to water and choose drought-tolerant plants, but forget the true benefit of mulching plants properly. Mulch not only looks attractive but serves a very important purpose in preventing evaporation of water and keeping water near the plant’s roots.
Provide proper maintenance. Proper maintenance to keep plants healthy is critical for a xeriscaping yard. Because your plants will receive less water, they must rely on rainfall and the soil to provide what they need. You can help them succeed by providing the right nutrients, trimming and pruning, and thinning when necessary.
At Juniper Landscape Company, we have been helping San Diego homeowners and business owners design, build and maintain beautiful landscapes for many years. With our expertise in xeriscaping, you can plan and build a wonderful, relaxing outdoor area that requires little to no water maintenance. This can help you save money and have a positive impact on the environment. Call Juniper Landscape Company today to learn more about how we can help you build the perfect xeriscape yard!
Juniper Landscape Company is a provider of professional landscaping services in San Diego, we strive to make San Diego a beautiful place by doing business with integrity and creativity.
TESTIMONIALS
Juniper Landscape Company is great. I have used them for landscape design, and they have transformed my yard into a garden retreat. Now they keep it up every week, and it looks gorgeous. They are the best San Diego landscapers! I would highly recommend Juniper Landscape Company if you are looking to landscape your... Read More
- Gita Morena
Our commercial property is located at 5150-5250 Murphy Canyon Road (the corner of Clairemont Mesa Blvd and Murphy Canyon Road).
Please be advised that we have maintained a landscaping contract with Joe Cryns for 16 years. Also, he was the landscaper for our property before the Chou’s purchased it. We have found Joe and his... Read More
- Judy Westphal - Property Manager
I must say that Juniper Landscape Company exceeded my expectations, completing the job in a timely fashion and for a fair price which we negotiated ahead of time, and which did not change even though there were difficulties with the terrain around my home in Stonebridge Estates (Scripps Ranch). Juniper Landscape Company was on-time,... Read More
- Gregory Berkoff
Thanks to the entire team at Juniper Landscape Company for a Great Job!!! It was a pleasure working with everyone…and Gabe did a great job leading the activities on-site. We were very satisfied with how the whole project progressed. The service was great...and we love the finished product! We wish everything could have gone... Read More
- Laura & Jim Garegnani
I had my front and back yards fully redone and wanted them ready for a party at my house. They worked long days and sent big crews to make sure they finished in time. The results were spectacular, and I highly recommend Juniper Landscape Company!!!... Read More
- Roberta Ganz
Jesse and Gabe did a fantastic job in the design and installation of our new backyard! They completed the job on budget and on time. Would highly recommend them to all!!... Read More
- Brad Bertrand
I have a side strip of yard which is on the street. The original landscaping was VERY high maintenance and not attractive. I was always out there cleaning up the leaf litter or be fined by the HOA. I hired Juniper Landscape Company. They came out and actually listened to what I wanted. They... Read More
- Laurie McHugh
Juniper Landscape Company has been fantastic. Before them, we ran through three or four other lawn and landscape maintenance companies who did spotty and sometimes outright poor work, were not always reliable and who ended up creating problems for us in a variety of ways. That experience led us to subscribe to Angie's List... Read More
- Letz Design Landscape
Jesse & Gabe,
I want to extend my thanks to you and your crew for participating in the Yard Crashers project the past few days. I know we are all exhausted due to the demands of filming and the logistics of the project with so many people involved.
One of the positive elements I found in... Read More