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It is the Denver Water summary which is made by using the, “Seven Water Saving Basic Principles” in the year 1981. The main focus of this summary is to make the quality landscapes by using less quantity of water.
What is Xeriscaping?"xeri" derived from the Greek word "xeros" for dry; and "scape", meaning a kind of view or scene. While xeriscape translates to mean "dry scene," in practice xeriscaping means simply landscaping with slow-growing, drought tolerant plants to conserve water and reduce yard trimmings.
Xeriscaping is a method of garden design which involves choosing plants that can be maintained with little water, says- N. Chandra Mohan Reddy.
DEFINITION:Xeriscape landscapes are defined as “quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment.”
XERISCAPING
• It can be applied to any landscape design, from formal to informal.
• Although it may take two to three years to establish, a xeric landscape aims to reduce the amount of water being used.
• There are seven water-saving principles of xeriscaping.
XERISCAPING
Planning a design. Soil Preparation.
Zoning of Plants.Turf Alternatives.
Efficient Irrigation.
Mulching.Appropriate Maintenance.
Planning a design (1st Step)
With respect to the buildings, driveways and existing vegetation planning a design of landscape. Note the orientation to the sun.
Consider:•High- or low- maintenance landscape.
•Type of plants want and any additional hardscape materials such as decks, patios and walkways.
•Identify problems and potentials.
•List needs and wants to be incorporated into the plan.
•A good plan divides the yard into water usage zones: high (regular watering), moderate (occasional watering) and low (natural rainfall).
•It also incorporates shade and appropriate plant selection.
•Laid a piece of tracing paper over the sketch and note where plants will be located and the placement of water and shade zones.
Soil analysis (2nd Step)
•Soil will retain more moisture if properly prepared. •In high and moderate water zones, adding organic matter, compost or leaves can help soil retain moisture. •In low water zones, tilling the soil will open it up to moisture and air and help roots develop better. •Composting Building and maintaining a compost heap will replenish your soil’s nutrients and maintain moisture in the garden.•Compost may be bought or made.•Put the right type of materials in the heap.
They include:1. Carbon-rich “brown” materials: leaves, straw, dead flowers and shredded newspaper. 2. Nitrogen-rich “green” materials: grass clippings, plant-based kitchen waste (vegetable peelings and fruit rinds, but no meat scraps), barnyard animal manure.3. Garden soil: A heaping shovelful.Find a container or site that's at least 3 feet long by 3 feet wide.
•Every couple of weeks, use a shovel to mix the rotted material to the center of the bin or pile. Keep the compost material moist, not wet. Air should circulate through the pile, or compost material can turn to slime and be useless in the garden. •Good compost is brown/black and crumbly with a sweet, woodsy smell.
Appropriate plant selection (3rd Step)
•Consider the design of the planting site when choosing plants. •Group plants with similar soil, light and watering requirements. •Many varieties of plants will fit in a xeric landscape.
Some steps for choosing plants :
•Mature size and form: Consider the plant’s scale as it grows; control overgrown plants that will compete with other plants for nutrients and moisture.
•Plant health: Look for well-developed roots throughout the root ball and for an abundance of small white roots (absorbing roots) on the outside of the root ball.
•Color : Add color to the landscape with flowering trees, shrubs and perennials. Use ground covers with variegated leaves instead of annuals, which take a lot of water.
Planting tips for trees and shrubs:
•Do not dig deeper than height of root ball•Root ball Dig planting hole two to three times as wide as root ball.
Turf planning (4th Step)
•Turf provides a play area for the yard. (grass and the surface layer of earth held together by its roots)•It also controls erosion and absorbs heat, cooling the environment around it. •When planning the turf area:•Designate a rectangular area large enough for practical use but with a small perimeter to conserve water.•Limit watering to high- visibility, high-impact areas.•Use drought-tolerant covers or mulch instead of turf on slopes or areas that are hard to move.•Never water turf daily unless you are trying to establish it. Daily watering will encourage shallow root growth and reduce the turf’s drought tolerance.•Divide watering sessions into 1-inch applications once or twice a week to maintain health.
Shallow roots and deeper drought resistant roots
Efficient Irrigation (5th Step)
•Xeric landscapes need good irrigation in the first few years to establish the root systems of plants.•Water wisely Plants wilt when they need watering. •If wilting continues into the evening, water the next morning. •Some plants wilt during the heat of day and recover later. •Once established, most plants, trees and shrubs need little watering. •This usually takes about three years from the initial planting time. •To water, moisten the soil 10 to 12 inches deep for shrubs and 6 to 8 inches deep for annuals, perennials and ground covers.•As a guide, 1 inch of water wets the soil to a depth of 6 inches. •A small shovel may be used as a probe to determine how much water is saturating the ground.•Sprinklers are better for lawns and Drip irrigation (plastic tubing placed below or above the ground surface) is best for watering plants. With both systems, watch for runoff, and avoid watering streets and sidewalks.
Mulching (6th step)
•Mulch provides a cover for soil, keeping it moist and preventing evaporation.
• Mulch also controls weed growth and erosion.
• It keeps plant roots cool. It prevents soil from forming a crust. It minimizes water evaporation. It reduces weed growth.
Types of mulches and how they are used: TYPE ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGEPine straw. Excellent for water
conservation.Flammable when dry Decomposes quickly.
Pine bark. Conserves moisture well. Use the mini nuggets.
None.
Leaves. Readily available. Hold moisture well.
Not as neat in appearance as bark.
Grass clippings. None. Use for compost.Gravel. Long lasting. Absorbs too much heat;
can damage plants.Newspaper. Layer two sheets under
organic mulch. Helps conserve moisture.
Acts as a moisture barrier if placed too thick.
Fabric. Keeps moisture nutrients in, weeds out.
Hard to install.
Plastic. None. Blocks oxygen, water and nutrients.
Maintenance (7th Step)
•All landscapes require some maintenance, but proper planning and design make it more efficient.
Things to do:• Control weeds. They take water intended for plants.
• Reduce fertilizer applications. The more a plant grows, the more water it needs.
• Remove poorly growing plants that consume time and water.
• Avoid heavy pruning. Plants that are left alone require less water to maintain themselves.
•Water the lawn deeply and infrequently.
•If water only a little bit each day, the deeper roots will die from lack of moisture. Lawn grass should be watered to a depth of 4-6 inches.
•No water again until the grass shows signs of stress – a change in color or footprints that can be seen after you walk over the grass.
•Use a screwdriver to check how deeply watered.
•Push the screwdriver into the soil. It will move easily through damp soil and with more difficulty through dry soil.
•Water the garden plants deeply and infrequently.
•Trees, shrubs, and flowers should be watered to a depth of 8-12 inches then not watered again until they begin to show water stress (slight wilting, change in color) or until the upper soil is dry.
•If soil is dry, squeeze a small handful.
•If it stays in a ball it is still moist; if it breaks apart, it is dry.
Why Xeriscape???
Xeriscape BenefitsSaves Water. For most of North America, over 50% of residential water used is applied to landscape and lawns. Xeriscape can reduce landscape water use by 50 - 75%.Less Maintenance. Aside from occasional pruning and weeding, maintenance is minimal. Watering requirements are low, and can be met with simple irrigation systems.No Fertilizers or Pesticides. Using plants native to area will eliminate the need for chemical supplements. Sufficient nutrients are provided by healthy organic soil.Improves Property Value. A good Xeriscape can raise property values which more than offset the cost of installation. Protect landscaping investment by drought-proofing it.Pollution Free. Fossil fuel consumption from gas mowers is minimized or eliminated with minimal turf areas. Small turf areas can be maintained with a reel mower.Provides Wildlife Habitat. Use of native plants, shrubs and trees offer a familiar and varied habitat for local wildlife.
Indian Rosewood Tree, Dalbergia sissoo June 11, 2006.Glendale Arizona Xeriscape Demonstration Library.
Plant in xeriscape gardens. Planted in sweeps or displayed in large containers, bamboo muhly gives an Asian look to gardens without "real" bamboo.
Perfect for ornamental garden. This xeriscape garden may not have a large array of plants.“is xeriscape garden may not have a large array of plants, but the plants that are in place are so striking that the space feels full. Setting each specimen in its own space rather than crowding them.
Few drought tolerant plants and lots of stone.
Xeriscaping doesn't have to be plain or boring. This beautiful outdoor room features areas for quiet contemplation amidst natural elements such as stones, wood materials and plants.
Xeriscape grasses with lots of texture and colormore cement pads with space in between.
This is perfect for the front yard with a winding pathway in the front.
principles of xeriscape gardening makes sense, especially in the south, southwest and other areas typically hit by droughts. Use of natural plants and stones adds beautiful shades of gray and green to the garden without costly watering.
Xeriscape landscaping was selected to complement the homes minimalist design”
Installed several large, mulched plant beds with drought-tolerant plants such as amur maple, flowering crab, potentilla, blue fescue, blue oat grass, rocky mountain juniper, dwarf spruce, snow in summer and artemisia. The soil was improved before planting and under the mulch is a low-volume drip irrigation system.
Meandering gravel path, stone steps and a perennial garden under the mature trees. This is how visitors approach the front entry which is much more welcoming.
An isolated bed of shade-loving plants separates a lower patio from the upper one. Hosta, Maiden Pinks, Lady Fern and Coralbells thrive in the same bed.
Flowers.Indian Rosewood.
Leaves.Indian Rosewood.
Bark.Indian Rosewood.
Seed Pods.Indian Rosewood.
Yucca: this evergreen plant brings a bold, dramatic touch to a dry landscape. Indians used the leaves to make baskets and the roots to produce soap.
Case Study--There is one reputed Institute in India named Tata Institute of Social Sciences(TISS) which is one of the best example of Xeriscaping. -Bordharan would be one of the closer and nearer example of Xeriscaping.- Kalpataru which is in Mumbai is another wonderful example of Xeriscaping.
BIOSWALE Bioswales are landscape elements designed to remove
silt and pollution from surface runoff water. They consist of a swaleddrainage course with gently sloped sides (less than six percent) and filled with vegetation and compost The water's flow path, along with the wide and shallow ditch, is designed to maximize the time water spends in the swale, which aids the trapping of pollutants and silt. Depending upon the geometry of land available, a bioswale may have a meandering or almost straight channel alignment. Biological factors also contribute to the breakdown of certain pollutants
