Pros and Cons of Xeriscaping: 3 Tips for Xeriscaping Your Yard

Xeriscaping is a landscaping method designed to significantly reduce the need for irrigation at homes and in public green spaces, such as parks. The practice of xeriscaping is built around several water-wise principles, such as replacing lawns with drought-tolerant native plants with low water requirements, or rocks, soil, and mulch.

Homeowners in the Western region of the United States, particularly in hot and dry states like Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and parts of California, use xeriscaping techniques on their properties to reduce water use, cut back on maintenance costs, and use fewer pesticides and other harmful chemicals.

The Denver Water Department coined the term “xeriscape” by combining “landscape” with the Greek word “xeros,” which means “dry.”

There are seven principles of xeriscaping:

1. 1. Planning and design: The first principle of xeriscaping is to design a xeriscaping plan for your property. There are a couple of ways to tackle this step: Consult a landscape designer or take a DIY approach and draw a diagram of your current property, including the house outline, sidewalks, walls, fences, and driveways. Add vegetation—a lawn, trees, a garden, or flower beds—and water or power sources, such as external electrical outlets or spigots.
2. 2. Soil: The content of your soil—typically sand or clay—will determine the plant selection for your xeriscape garden and your water needs. Sandy soil holds less water and may cause plants to dry out, while clay soil retains water. Soil amendments made from organic materials, like compost or manure, can help hold and release water and are useful for non-native plants but less so for native plants and succulents, which require inorganic materials for drainage and aeration.
3. 3. Efficient irrigation: Reducing water usage is the central focus of xeriscaping. You can water xeriscape landscaping by hand or with an automatic irrigation system or sprinkler. Infrequent watering will help your plants develop deep roots, but you should water turf areas like grassy lawns and plants or flowers based on their condition. Use the right irrigation method for different plants: drip irrigation works best for trees, flowers, and groundcover, while low pressure, low-angle sprinklers are most effective for grass. Be sure to turn off your system when it rains to conserve water.
4. 4. Plant choices: There are an array of xeric plants, or drought-resistant plants, outside of succulents and cacti, including sedum rubrotinctum (“pork and beans”), Russian sage, the California tree poppy, and aloe. Consult the USDA website or local garden centers for plants native to your region, and group them according to light and water requirements to save water.
5. 5. Mulch: Mulching reduces heat, weed growth, and water evaporation. Organic matter, like bark chips, is effective for new gardens. Apply organic matter directly to the soil at a depth of at least four inches, while inorganic mulch, like rocks or gravel, should be applied at two inches.
6. 6. Lawn alternatives: Since turf areas use a substantial amount of water, consider devoting yard space to decks, flagstone pavers, rock gardens, or mulch. Ornamental grasses, such as blue fescue or buffalo grass, use very little water.
7. 7. Maintenance: Xeriscaped yards are low-maintenance but still need year-round care. Aerating and fertilizing your lawn every six weeks is crucial to its look and health. Mowing your lawn to a height of three inches is also a necessity because it keeps the soil cool and requires less water. Be sure to trim and prune trees and bushes to promote blooming and control growth. Shred any yard waste, including lawn clippings, and add it to compost piles.

There are several advantages to xeriscaping your lawn, including:

1. 1. Environmental benefits: Human activity can raise the heat index in urban or densely populated areas. Xeriscaping has proven beneficial in lowering daytime and nighttime temperatures in dry regions through shade trees. Additionally, less lawn space requires less maintenance, which reduces emissions from gas-powered mowers.
2. 2. Maintenance costs: Xeriscaping is a great way for homeowners to save money on landscaping and water costs. Less lawn space reduces water bills but also the cost of maintenance on lawns and trees.
3. 3. Water conservation: Lawns in the United States consume 30 to 60 percent of freshwater in urban areas. In desert regions like the Southwest, landscape irrigation accounts for 60 to 90 percent of household water usage.

There are also several disadvantages to xeriscaping your yard, including:

1. 1. Aesthetics: Xeriscaping can reduce the amount of vegetation in your yard, especially the footage devoted to a lawn. The lack of a large, lush green lawn may negatively impact your curb appeal, or the impression your home makes at first glance.
2. 2. Functionality: You may not be able to use your yard in the same manner after xeriscaping. Replacing grass with mulch or rock may mean that you have less room for physical activity in the yard, which may be an issue for those with children or pets.
3. 3. Money and time: It can be costly and time-consuming to xeriscape your lawn, especially at the beginning of the practice. Installing a new irrigation system, uprooting and removing plants and trees, and finding native plants may require more effort and funding than you initially anticipated.

Here are some tips to consider if you’re interested in xeriscaping your yard:

1. 1. Check for rebates. Many states, including California, New Mexico, and Nevada, offer rebates from public utilities or cash incentives from state or city programs for xeriscaping your yard. Contact your water and power company, City Hall, or state government for additional details.
2. 2. Reduce your water pressure. Though it’s important to water your plants deeply at the right time, blasting them with high-pressure water can create runoff and water waste. A low-pressure stream works well, as do low-pressure sprinkler systems, like bubblers or soakers.
3. 3. Think outside the cacti. While the term “xeriscaping” is often associated with images of stark, grassless expanses and desert plants, you can incorporate a range of plant life into your garden using this method. You can implement succulents or adopt a xeriscaping plan that includes wildflowers, ornamental grasses, trees, and shrubs.

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