WATER-SAVING LANDSCAPING

LOW-MAINTENANCE SOLUTIONS FOR INTERMOUNTAIN REGIONS

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CHALLENGES

• HOT TEMPERATURES

• COLD TEMPERATURES

• SHORTER GROWING SEASON

• DRYING WINDS

• DELUGE/DROUGHT

• POOR SOIL

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SOLUTIONS

• WINDBREAKS

• XERISCAPING

• SOIL AMENDMENT

• NATIVE PLANTS

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Xeriscaping

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WINDBREAKS

• STRUCTURES

• FENCES

• WALLS

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WINDBREAKS

• PLANTS

• TREE LINES

• HEDGES

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WATER CYCLE

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Condensation and

Precipitation

Runoff and Percolation

Evaporation

Transpiration

Clouds

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Brushing teeth

Washing hands

Toilet flush

Shaving

Shower (8 min.)

Bath

Dishwasher

Dishes by hand

Clothes washer

Lawn (20 min.)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

Water Consumption

Columna1 Conservative Average

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Activity Average Conservative

Brushing teeth 2 0,5

Washing hands 2 0,5

Toilet flush 5 2

Shaving 10 1

Shower (8 min.) 20 5

Bath 36 15

Dishwasher 15 7

Dishes by hand 20 5

Clothes washer 40 25

Lawn (20 min.) 200 200

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XERISCAPING

• PLANTING STRATEGIES THAT CONSERVE WATER

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XERISCAPING

• NO ADDITIONAL WATERING

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XERISCAPING

• DRIP IRRIGATION

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SOIL AMENDMENT

• EASTERN WASHINGTON LOSES MORE THAN 10 TONS OF SOIL PER ACRE PER YEAR TO RAINFALL RUNOFF

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NATIVE PLANTS

• TOLERATE TEMPERATURE RANGE

• TOLERATE DROUGHT

• PREVENT EROSION

• SUPPORT NATURAL ECOSYSTEM

• ATTRACT POLLINATORS

• NEED LITTLE OR NO MAINTENANCE

• SUSTAINABLE

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TEMPERATURE RANGE

Seasonal Temperatures

Winter Spring Summer Fall

Minimum

18 41 73 43

Average 29 57 89 54

Maximum

40 72 105 65

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NATIVE PLANTS

April 18, 2010Photos courtesy of Rugged Country Plants