Do you wish you could have a brightly-colored garden with flowers and various plants? Maybe you live in a dry area like Utah or Nevada where water needs to be used wisely. It’s true that some areas of the country cannot have huge gardens with annuals that need daily watering. Water-Wise Landscaping may be the answer to your gardening needs.
What Is Water-Wise Landscaping?
Water-wise landscaping is a landscaping plan that uses water wisely. You can plan your landscaping with this method used in dry states with little rainfall and intense heat.
There are many choices of flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees that will grow and have already adapted to Utah weather. Your landscaping can be as lush and beautiful as anywhere else.
Conserving water is not the only benefit of water-wise landscaping. Water-wise landscaping must be attractive and provide enough water to keep your plants and trees healthy. This method allows those who live in states with limited water to have an attractive garden with a variety of plants. A water-wise garden or landscaping must be specifically designed for your environment.
Best Practices for Water-Wise Landscaping
Tips for having beautiful landscaping that requires minimal water include the following:
Tip 1 – Choose plants that live in your environment
Plants and trees that are proven to grow and thrive in your environment are the best choices when you are planning your landscaping. They have already adapted to your area so there is a good chance that they will survive in your yard. You will want to check on the plants’ irrigation needs before planting.
Tip 2 – Group plants with similar watering needs
You need to know the watering needs of the plants and trees you would like to plant. Once you have this information, decide how to place plants with similar irrigation needs. This allows you to water small patches of your landscaping as needed without the need to water all of the landscaping to reach only a few plants.
Discovering as much as possible about the plants you have decided to use in your landscaping helps you to group plants with similar needs together. The zones for Utah tell how often plants need water.
- Zone 0 – No watering
- Zone 1 – Needs monthly watering
- Zone 2 – Water twice a month
- Zone 3 – Water once per week
- Zone 4 – Water two times per week
Try to plan for seasonal color in your landscaping. This may require planting fall bloomers after summer annuals finish their seasons.
Tip 3 – Choose plants that fit your landscaping design
It is helpful to browse through landscaping and gardening magazines and journals to get ideas of plants that grow well in your environment and fit your design. You may have several options if you’re looking for colorful plants to add to your property. By seeing these plants in landscaping in your area, you can be sure that you like them before your planting begins.
Be sure to consider how tall the plants will be when fully grown if you want to use them to hide a meter, cable box, or other distraction near your house. Other considerations to consider are the shape of plants, their colors, and how dense the plant is.
Tip 4 – Consider adding stone walkways, a deck, or a path to add interest
The big bonus to adding stone or pebble features to your landscaping is that they do not require watering. You can have a complete design without using only living plants and trees.
These structures not only eliminate irrigation but they add interest to your property. A deck is handy for entertaining friends or barbequing with your family. Walkways and paths can be attractive and will likely be one of your favorite parts of your landscaping.
Tip 5 – Strategically place shrubs and trees around your house
Live trees and shrubs do more than add character to your house. The shrubs and trees look beautiful while helping to maintain the temperature inside.
Whether trees and shrubs are in the north, south, east, or west makes a big difference in the amount of water they need. If you plant a deciduous tree, it will help cool your house significantly in the heat of summer. The amount of irrigation your trees and plants need depends on the area where they are planted and whether they receive partial or full sun.
Tip 6 – Choose flowers and plants that you love
Picking which flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees you like is the reward at the end of your water-wise planning. Flowers like annuals that only live a year can be changed every year and you can experience a variety of plants by planting different species every year.
Ground cover is another choice to consider. Be sure to look at Utah Sedum, Scotch Moss, and Creeping Sedum which have adapted to the dry Utah weather to use in your landscaping.
Why Planning is Important
Landscaping professionals use software to see what various designs might look like. They provide a thorough overview of the options to consider for your landscaping. Software programs can also focus on smaller areas of your yard to see how particular plants will look in this area. There are also water-wise landscaping models available to visitors looking for ideas. These allow you to view landscaping that is completed.
Planning is important to water-wise landscaping. You can use online lists that tell you which plants grow in your environment. Remember that conserving water is not only for today but for the future when water may be rare due to changing conditions such as a growing population.
You Will Be Glad That You Implemented Water-Wise Landscaping
The bottom line of water-wise landscaping is that you will feel good about it. Not only will you appreciate the beauty added to your yard, but you will feel good that you are using the water in your area wisely. You won’t have to deal with dying plants that cannot survive in your area. Feel free to call https://www.projectlandscape.ca/ for your next landscaping project. We’re happy to help!
