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| Drought tolerant plants, gravel mulch, and walls were used to create this water conserving landscape. Photo credit: teofilo Flickr CC BY 2.0 |
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| Even a cactus garden can seem lush. Photo credit: bloomnfool Flikcr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 |
Xeric gardening has increased in popularity as growing urban populations coupled with drought take their toll on water supplies nationwide.
The term xeric (pronounced zerik) simply means 'dry' in Greek. Xeric plants are adapted to dry conditions and require little to no water during the growing season depending on conditions.
Planting a xeric garden does not mean zeroscape! Many beautiful drought tolerant plants are available to meet the needs of your landscape.
Use plants adapted to the natural rainfall patterns of the local area. Native plants may be the best choice as they tend to be adapted to naturally occurring periodic drought cycles and help blend the garden into the local landscape.
Seven basic principles were developed to guide the creation of xeric gardens in order to reduce water use in the landscape.
- Planning and design
- Soil analysis
- Practical turf areas
- Appropriate plant selection
- Efficient irrigation
- Use of mulches
- Appropriate maintenance
Additional Resources:
West
Colorado: Xeriscaping: Retrofit Your Yard
Colorado: Xeriscape Plant Coices
Oregon: Xeriscaping in the High Desert
Texas: Landscape Water Conservation
Northeast
Southeast
South Carolina: Xeriscape: Landscape Water Conservation in the Southeast
Florida: Xeriscaping
