What is Xeriscaping? A Quick Guide for Texas Homeowners
While watering your garden and lawn is crucial for healthy landscaping that looks great, it’s easier said than done in states like Texas. Homeowners in the Lone Star State are all too familiar with the challenges that come with upkeeping a beautiful exterior, one of which is regular droughts. Thankfully, there are various solutions that allow Texans to maintain their landscaping without drowning it in water. One such technique is xeriscaping.
Here’s what you need to know about xeriscaping and its benefits for Texas homeowners.
What is Xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping is a landscaping philosophy that requires little water to execute, relying more on high-quality soil and efficient design. It’s a portmanteau that comes from the Greek word xeros, meaning “dry,” and “landscaping” — that is, “dry landscaping.”
While xeriscaping is great for any dry, arid climate, it’s an excellent example of how Texans can use clever design to promote sustainability. Using native and drought-tolerant plants is a beautiful and effective way to conserve water usage.
How Do You Xeriscape?
Many of the principles of xeriscaping are already built into how most landscapers approach their work in warmer climates. But to get the most out of xeriscaping, you must understand how to do it consciously — especially if you’re not a professional.
Thoughtful Landscape Design
The best way to implement xeriscaping is to plan for it from the start. So when considering the design of your landscape, prioritize water mindfulness over pure aesthetics. Think about the topography of your yard and garden. Create zones for specific kinds of plants, such as placing drought-tolerant greenery in areas that get sun all day long, while reserving your shade for less tolerant plants. Once you’re committed to using water more efficiently, creating your design becomes significantly more straightforward.
Choosing the Right Greenery
You can make a significant difference in your water needs if you just choose the right plants. Some have moderate water needs, while others have very little. However, you don’t need to go straight for cacti or succulents. Native plants are already adapted to the local climate and will naturally need less water. And depending on your region, chances are there’s a wide variety of native greenery that can make your yard look beautiful.
Forgoing the Traditional Lawn
Homeowners often believe that a sprawling, verdant lawn is the hallmark of a beautiful-looking landscape. But you’d be surprised by how much curb appeal you can muster with native grasses and clover, both of which require significantly less water to grow and thrive. Some homeowners even opt for devoting significant square footage to hardscape areas like patios.
Considering Soil Improvement
Healthy soil can make all the difference for better plant growth and water conservation. Adding compost is an excellent and easy way to provide plants with the nutrients they crave, while hardscaping with porous materials like gravel can help water enter the soil, where it can help plants thrive rather than contribute to erosion.
The Benefits of Xeriscaping
Because xeriscaping improves water conservancy, one immediate benefit is that homeowners can see lower water bills and landscaping costs, both of which can drastically add up over time. This also improves the home’s property value and makes it more attractive to potential buyers, as water conservation and sustainability are becoming more important to homeowners as time goes on.
Xeriscaping also comes with several environmental benefits. This is most noticeable in areas that face regular droughts, like Texas. And since xeriscaping often relies on native plants and grasses, you can help promote biodiversity by giving birds and other pollinators a comfortable habitat and food source.
Finally, xeriscaping provides much more curb appeal than most people realize. The organic, natural look of native plants does wonders for making a home look like it belongs on the land.
Consider Xeriscaping for a Sustainable, Attractive Property
If you’re frustrated by the weight of water bills or just want to have a more eco-conscious home, then xeriscaping could be a wise choice. Thankfully, you don’t have to necessarily gut your landscape to start xeriscaping; you can implement various aspects over time with native plants and compost.
With xeriscaping, you can help improve your property’s soil health and lower your water usage without sacrificing having an aesthetically pleasing property.
Grass Works has been providing Expert Residential & Commercial Local Lawn Care Services in Central Texas: Austin, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Avery Ranch, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Steiner Ranch & West Austin since 2007! Need help with your landscaping? Get a free estimate today!
Ferris MyCue is the founder and owner of Grass Works Lawn Care, LLC located in Leander, TX. As a former firefighter who maintained yards on his days off, he saw a need for a dependable, local maintenance company that knew the hill country climate and could deliver quality landscaping services for a reasonable price. Since 2007 he has used his leadership to grow the company into one of the top landscape maintenance companies in Austin and surrounding areas offering landscape maintenance, design, and irrigation services to both residential and commercial clients. Ferris is also a member of the Seasonal Employment Alliance (SEA) and an active participant in advocacy efforts to help promote cap relief.