Eco-friendly gardens – xeriscaping

The Wikepedia definition of Xeriscaping is: to landscape and garden in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation. It is promoted in areas that do not have easily accessible supplies of fresh water, and is gaining acceptance in other areas as climate patterns shift. The word xeriscaping is a portmanteau of xeros (Greek for “dry”) and landscape.

Plants whose natural requirements are appropriate to the local climate are emphasized, and care is taken to avoid losing water to evaporation and run-off. The specific plants used in xeriscaping depend upon the climate. Some common plants used in Western xeriscaping are agave, cactus, lavender, juniper, sedum and thyme.

In some areas, terms such as water-conserving landscapes, drought-tolerant landscaping, zeroscaping, and smart scaping are used instead.

Living in Southern California I never really understood the American
obsession with Lawns, especially in an area such as Southern California
which for 8 months of the year has little to no rain and plants rely
purely on irrigation. Currently our area of California is on a mandatory water reduction scheme, each household having to reduce their water usage anywhere from 8-15%. This could EASILY be achieved if most households reduced their lawns, reduced the watering of lawns and just opted for some native plants instead. By using plants native to our area there are many eco-friendly advantages:

• Lower water consumption
• More water available for other uses and other people
• Less time and work needed for maintenance, making gardening simpler and less stressful
• Little or no lawnmowing (saves energy)
• Xeriscape plants along with proper bed design tends to take full advantage of rainfall
• provide natural habitat for wildlife specific to your area
• When water restrictions are implemented, xeriscape plants will tend
  to survive, while more traditional plants may be unable to adapt.

Think about your own garden and how you could make it more eco-friendly. Research plant varieties native to your local area and promote types those in your own garden. Use this transition as a teaching tool for children, explaining why xeriscaping is so important in today’s world and how by using native plants we are conserving water and protecting the environment. The benefits of xeriscaping are too great not only to the  environment but also to your pocket book. Native plants save water which saves you money, and native plants generally cost less as they are easier to produce. Why not see what changes you can make in your own garden to become more eco-friendly?

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