Xer is Cape Gardening

7/28/2019 Xer is Cape Gardening

1/40

Xeriscape GardeningXeriscape Gardening

Department of Horticulture & LandscapeArchitecture

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service


2/40

Xeriscape HistoryXeriscape History

Denver water department - 1978 Reduce irrigation

Based on sound horticultural principles

Also known as water-wiseTM, waterefficient, watersaver


3/40

XeriscapeXeriscape--What is it?What is it?

Xeri - scape Pronounced zeri-scape xeri= dry

scape= vista Quality landscaping that conserves

water and protects the environment.


4/40

Misconception #1:Misconception #1:

Xeriscape means rocks and yucca, orcactus and gravel


5/40


Xeriscape means no lawns.


6/40


Xeriscape means dry landscaping only.


7/40

Seven fundamentals

1. Plan and design

2. Consider improving the soil

3. Use appropriate plants and zone the landscape

4. Create practical turf areas5. Consider using mulches

6. Irrigate efficiently

7. Maintain the landscape appropriately


8/40

Plan & DesignPlan & Design

Begin with a well-thought-out design


9/40


Start with a siteanalysis . . . Assess factors that

influence water aswell as good or badviews


10/40


. . . and inventory Existing structures,trees, shrubs, and

turf areas, etc.


11/40


Consider- Budget,

Appearance,

Function, Maintenance,

Water needs


12/40


Refer to localresources


13/40



14/40



15/40


Hard surfaces andthe use of heatbarriers

Shade Organic materials

Fences or hedges

Control airmovement


16/40

Improve SoilImprove Soil Add organic matter to soil of shrub and

flower beds Improves plant health & conserves water

By absorbing and storing water in a formavailable to plants

Till in 4 inches of organic material

Not practical for trees and grass areas


17/40

Use Appropriate Plants and Zone LandscapeUse Appropriate Plants and Zone Landscape

Use native plants

when possible Well-adapted

exotic plants mayalso be used

Drought tolerant

does not meanplant and forget


18/40

Use Appropriate Plants and Zone LandscapeUse Appropriate Plants and Zone Landscape

Low water usezones

Moderate water

use zones High water use

zones


19/40

Create Practical Turf AreasCreate Practical Turf Areas

Turf areas should bebased on life style,site conditions, and

water needs Traditional turfareas require more

water


20/40

Create Practical Turf AreasCreate Practical Turf Areas Turfgrasses vary in their need for

irrigation Fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass (use the most

water)

Hybrid bermudas like Tifway

Zoysiagrass

Common bermudagrass, U-3 Buffalograss (uses the least water)


21/40

Create Practical Turf AreasCreate Practical Turf Areas

Consider: Reducing the size of water-sensitive

lawns through the use of patios, decks,shrub beds and groundcovers

The ease or difficulty of watering theproposed area Long narrow and small odd-shaped areas are

difficult to irrigate efficiently


22/40

Use MulchesUse Mulches

Mulch Conserves soil moisture

Reduces weeds Prevents soil compaction

Moderates soil temperatures


23/40



24/40


Organic Straw, pine needles, bark nuggets, wood

chips, sawdust and other wood products

Inorganic Lava rock, rock, plastic, landscape fabric


25/40

Irrigate EfficientlyIrrigate Efficiently

Efficient irrigation systems cansave a lot of water

Efficient systems include

Soaker hoses, trickle, drip Overhead irrigation is

inefficient

Zone irrigation systems


26/40

Irrigate EfficientlyIrrigate Efficiently Determine how much

water is needed and howoften each watering zoneneeds watering.

Determine how long towater. Determine how fast to

water.


27/40

Maintain Landscape ProperlyMaintain Landscape Properly

Healthy plants aremore drought

tolerant than weakor damaged plants


28/40

Maintain Landscape ProperlyMaintain Landscape Properly

Proper mowing

Proper fertilizing

Proper pruning

Properly timed pest control Avoid mechanical damage

Periodic checks of irrigation system


29/40

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants Large trees

Caddo sugar maple Hackberry

Ginkgo

Kentucky coffeetree Oaks

Bald cypress

Lacebark elm

Japanese zelkova


30/40

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants Medium trees

Arizona cypress Eastern red cedar

Chinese pistache

Western soapberry Cedar elm


31/40

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants Small trees

Shantung maple Oklahoma redbud

Desert willow

Winterberry euonymus Pinyon pine


32/40

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants Shrubs - small

Glossy abelia Deciduous holly

Winter jasmine

Junipers Nandina

Spirea

Shrubs - medium Rose of Sharon Crape myrtle

Shrub roses

Sumac


33/40

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants Shrubs - large

Smoke tree Crape myrtle

Silverberry elaeagnus

Yaupon holly Arborvitae

Vitex


34/40

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants Vines

Crossvine Trumpet vine

Silver lace vine

English ivy Virginia creeper

Boston ivy

Climbing rose


35/40

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants Groundcovers

Hardy ice plant Junipers

Liriope

Creeping phlox Stonecrop sedum

santolina

Ornamental grasses

Pampas grass Plume grass

Maiden grass

Japanese silver grass Zebra grass

Giant reed grass

Switch grass Fountain grass


36/40

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants Perennials

Yarrow Wormwood

Blue mist spirea

Plumbago Shasta daisy

Coreopsis

Coneflower

Gaillardia

Gaura

Daylily

Bearded iris Russian sage

Black-eyed Susan

Autumn sage Verbena


37/40

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants Annuals

Josephs coat Summer snapdragon

Melampodium

Cockscomb Cosmos

Mexican heather

Gazania Gomphrena


38/40

Firebush

Madagascar periwinkle

Sunflower

Ornamental sweet

potato Lantana

Pentas

Portulaca/purslane


39/40

Low Water Use PlantsLow Water Use Plants Annuals

Mexican bush sage Dusty miller

Purple heart

Marigolds

Mexican sunflower

Zinnia Mexican zinnia


40/40

Documents

Xer is Cape Gardening