Xeriscape Gardening - Oklahoma State University
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The document discusses the principles and practices of xeriscape gardening, which is a style of landscaping that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation. It explains the seven fundamentals of xeriscape design: planning, soil improvement, appropriate plant selection, practical turf areas, mulching, efficient irrigation, and maintenance. The document also provides many examples of low-water use trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers, vines, grasses, and annuals that are suitable for xeriscape gardens.
Xeriscape Gardening - Oklahoma State University
- 1. Xeriscape Gardening Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
- 2. Xeriscape History • Denver water department - 1978 • Reduce irrigation • Based on sound horticultural principles • Also known as water-wise , water TM efficient, watersaver
- 3. Xeriscape - What is it? • Xeri - scape • Pronounced “zeri-scape” – xeri = dry – scape = vista • Quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment.
- 4. Misconception #1: • Xeriscape means rocks and yucca, or cactus and gravel
- 5. Misconception #2: • Xeriscape means no lawns.
- 6. Misconception #3: • Xeriscape means dry landscaping only.
- 7. Seven fundamentals 1. Plan and design 2. Consider improving the soil 3. Use appropriate plants and zone the landscape 4. Create practical turf areas 5. Consider using mulches 6. Irrigate efficiently 7. Maintain the landscape appropriately
- 8. Plan & Design • Begin with a well- thought-out design
- 9. Plan & Design • Start with a site analysis . . . – Assess factors that influence water as well as good or bad views
- 10. Plan & Design • . . . and inventory – Existing structures, trees, shrubs, and turf areas, etc.
- 11. Plan & Design • Consider- – Budget, – Appearance, – Function, – Maintenance, – Water needs
- 12. Plan & Design • Refer to local resources
- 13. Plan & Design
- 14. Plan & Design
- 15. Plan & Design • Hard surfaces and the use of heat barriers – Shade – Organic materials – Fences or hedges – Control air movement
- 16. Improve Soil • Add organic matter to soil of shrub and flower beds – Improves plant health & conserves water • By absorbing and storing water in a form available to plants • Till in 4 inches of organic material • Not practical for trees and grass areas
- 17. Use Appropriate Plants and Zone Landscape • Use native plants when possible • Well-adapted exotic plants may also be used • Drought tolerant does not mean “plant and forget”
- 18. Use Appropriate Plants and Zone Landscape • Low water use zones • Moderate water use zones • High water use zones
- 19. Create Practical Turf Areas • Turf areas should be based on life style, site conditions, and water needs • Traditional turf areas require more water
- 20. Create 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. Create 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 the proposed area • Long narrow and small odd-shaped areas are difficult to irrigate efficiently
- 22. Use Mulches Mulch • Conserves soil moisture • Reduces weeds • Prevents soil compaction • Moderates soil temperatures
- 23. Use Mulches
- 24. Use Mulches • Organic – Straw, pine needles, bark nuggets, wood chips, sawdust and other wood products • Inorganic – Lava rock, rock, plastic, landscape fabric
- 25. Irrigate Efficiently • Efficient irrigation systems can save a lot of water • Efficient systems include – Soaker hoses, trickle, drip • Overhead irrigation is inefficient • Zone irrigation systems
- 26. Irrigate Efficiently • Determine how much water is needed and how often each watering zone needs watering. • Determine how long to water. • Determine how fast to water.
- 27. Maintain Landscape Properly • Healthy plants are more drought tolerant than weak or damaged plants
- 28. Maintain Landscape Properly • Proper mowing • Proper fertilizing • Proper pruning • Properly timed pest control • Avoid mechanical damage • Periodic checks of irrigation system
- 29. Low Water Use Plants • Large trees – Caddo sugar maple – Hackberry – Ginkgo – Kentucky coffeetree – Oaks – Bald cypress – Lacebark elm – Japanese zelkova
- 30. Low Water Use Plants • Medium trees – Arizona cypress – Eastern red cedar – Chinese pistache – Western soapberry – Cedar elm
- 31. Low Water Use Plants • Small trees – Shantung maple – Oklahoma redbud – Desert willow – Winterberry euonymus – Pinyon pine
- 32. Low Water Use Plants • Shrubs - small • Shrubs - medium – Glossy abelia – Rose of Sharon – Deciduous holly – Crape myrtle – Winter jasmine – Shrub roses – Junipers – Sumac – Nandina – Spirea
- 33. Low Water Use Plants • Shrubs - large – Smoke tree – Crape myrtle – Silverberry elaeagnus – Yaupon holly – Arborvitae – Vitex
- 34. Low Water Use Plants • Vines – Crossvine – Trumpet vine – Silver lace vine – English ivy – Virginia creeper – Boston ivy – Climbing rose
- 35. Low Water Use Plants • Groundcovers • Ornamental grasses – Hardy ice plant – Pampas grass – Junipers – Plume grass – Liriope – Maiden grass – Creeping phlox – Japanese silver grass – Stonecrop sedum – Zebra grass – santolina – Giant reed grass – Switch grass – Fountain grass
- 36. Low Water Use Plants • Perennials – Yarrow – Gaillardia – Wormwood – Gaura – Blue mist spirea – Daylily – Plumbago – Bearded iris – Shasta daisy – Russian sage – Coreopsis – Black-eyed Susan – Coneflower – Autumn sage – Verbena
- 37. Low Water Use Plants • Annuals – Joseph’s coat – Summer snapdragon – Melampodium – Cockscomb – Cosmos – Mexican heather – Gazania – Gomphrena
- 38. – Firebush – Madagascar periwinkle – Sunflower – Ornamental sweet potato – Lantana – Pentas – Portulaca/purslane
- 39. Low Water Use Plants • Annuals – Mexican bush sage – Dusty miller – Purple heart – Marigolds – Mexican sunflower – Zinnia – Mexican zinnia