Sustainable Landscaping

If you are interested in sustainable landscaping, why not consider using xeriscaping.  This is a type of sustainable landscaping practice in which an irrigation system is created through plants rather than plumbing. 

Not to mention you’ll get additional benefits of a sustainable landscape, including being able to watch wildlife interact in your garden and being able to eat the fruits or vegetables of your labor.

So, how does a person get started with xeriscaping?  It is best if one buys a book or even takes a course on the subject. 

Why?  Well, in terms of sustainable landscaping, xeriscaping requires a lot of knowledge when it comes to the types of plants that work best for irrigation. 

You must also know how to design your sustainable landscape.  For example, you may have to use hydrozoning in order to make your xeriscaped sustainable garden effective. 

This placement is determined by how much water they use.  Plants requiring more water would be placed with similar plants in an area of shade.  This exposes them to less sunlight, which decreases their need for water. 

Once your sustainable landscape is designed, you will have to implement the actual irrigation system.  The specific system used for this type of xeriscaping is known as drip irrigation. 

Drip irrigation systems consist of little segments that collect water from the plants.  This water is then ‘dripped’ into the system, which can be obtained from a well.

With all that being said, why isn’t everyone using xeriscaping?  Well, aside from lack of knowledge, there’s also the element of expense, since setting up the irrigation system can be expensive. 

Additionally, it might limit the types of plants they use, since a certain percentage of their sustainable garden will have to contain plants that give off a lot of water. 

It is for this reason that gardeners might feel ‘restricted’ with this form of sustainable landscaping.

But for others not only is xeriscaping nice for sustainability, but it could actually solve a serious water problem where they live at. 

This mainly applies to areas that get a lot of droughts.  When this happens sometimes the local government has to mandate how much water can be used, with the water being completely shut off at certain times. 

Yet, through xeriscaped sustainable gardens, people can enjoy water any time of the day… even during the drought.  The same principle can also apply in emergency situations or when a pipeline breaks.

In conclusion, xeriscaping can be a very powerful form of sustainable landscaping.  In fact, some may consider it the ultimate solution for creating sustainable gardens. 

And while this would still be their own opinion, it’s hard to deny how xeriscaping is able to handle so many sustainable concerns. 

It still won’t be for everyone, but for those looking for an all-in-one sustainable landscaping solution, xeriscaping is the answer.