The term “xeriscape” was coined during the 1970s in Colorado to help gardeners deal with their landscaping practices during a worsening drought. Today, the concept has spread worldwide as people want attractive landscapes but often are faced with increasing restrictions on the use
of water.

The word xeriscape is derived from the Greek word Xeros, meaning dry. Often mistakingly referred to as “zeroscape,” many people erroneously believe that these landscapes are restricted to rocks and cacti.

Climate and conditions
The type of plants that you can include in your xeriscape is largely dependent upon your climate, especially the amount and timing of rainfall. In North Georgia, our normal annual rainfall is an abundant 50 inches, more than twice that of Honolulu and three times that of many places in the West. Even in a severe drought year, we often receive at least 40 inches of rain. Because of our abundant rainfall, we have the luxury of being able to grow plants that normally wouldn’t be considered drought-tolerant, including turf grass. Many cacti would drown in that much rainfall.


Follow the rules
There are seven principles of xeriscaping, all of which are easy to understand and follow. Some steps, especially in the design and plant selection phase, may require the help of a knowledgeable professional.

Step 1: Design and planning
• Draw out the design of your home and the surrounding landscape, including the location of the house, driveways, sidewalks, patios, decks, doors, windows, downspouts, spigots, outlets, etc.

• Note the sun exposure of the landscape areas: sun, morning sun, partial or
full shade.

• Mark areas that have dry, moist or wet soil, or have excessive runoff when it
rains.

• Select plants that are drought-resistant and adapted to the climate, especially natives.

• Group plants together by sun exposure and water requirements.



Step 2: Design the landscape with practical turf areas
Even in years without drought, turf should not be the dominant plant in the landscape. Turf grasses require too much water and too many chemicals to be considered environmentally friendly plants. A good rule is to have turf areas limited to between one-third and one-half of the total landscaped area. Choose the appropriate turf grass for your landscape based upon sun, partial shade and foot traffic.

Step 3: Choose drought-tolerant plants
There are several requirements to consider when it comes to choosing drought-tolerant plants for your garden. Once purchased, try to follow specific tasks to help the plants get established.

• Give preference to native plants that have adapted to the climate.

• Choose only healthy plants from the nursery. Inspect the foliage and the roots.

• Install the plant correctly in the appropriate site. Dig holes at least three times the diameter of the root ball.

• Get the plant established with proper care and maintenance, which can take 1-3 years, depending on the plant and its size.



Step 4: Use soil amendments
Although our red clay is high in nutrients, the nutrients are locked up tight in the small clay particles that can bond so tightly the soil almost becomes cement. Watering clay soil can be problematic. Dry clay soil can be hard for water to penetrate, and when wet, it takes forever to drain and dry. Therefore, it’s recommended that you add organic matter to the soil, such as compost, Nature’s Helper (or other soil conditioner) or a good quality topsoil/planting mix. Organic matter can hold two to three times its weight in moisture, slowly releasing it back into the soil. It also helps oxygen penetrate into the root zone of the plants.

For very compacted clay soil, you will probably need a 3- to 5-inch layer of organic matter over the entire planting area. In past years, it was recommended that these organic materials be tilled into the top 8-10 inches of soil. Recently, research has offered another, less back-breaking, alternative. Break up the clay soil surface with a shovel or pitchfork, add the amendments on top and begin planting with wide holes.

Whatever you do, don’t skip the amendment step. Good soil makes good roots, and good roots make happy plants. Healthy plants can withstand drought far better than those struggling in poor soil.

Step 5: Mulch
To help maintain the moisture within the soil, and to moderate fluctuations in soil temperatures, always keep a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch over the top of the soil, but not in direct contact with the base of the plants. This mulch can be settled pine straw, shredded bark or shredded hardwood. Wood nuggets don’t seem to work as well, as gaps can develop. Rocks can become too hot, and synthetic mulches such as plastic pine straw and shredded rubber cannot break down and may actually harm your plants.

As the mulch begins to break down, it will work its way into your soil and provide a constant source of fresh organic material (see Step 4). Therefore, it’s recommended that you don’t remove the old mulch, but simply add a new layer over the top in order to achieve the 2- to 3-inch depth. Old mulch should only be removed if it’s installed over landscape fabric or if your plants are having problems with certain diseases. Mulch should be refreshed one or two times per year.

If drought conditions become severe or extreme, increase the amount of mulch in your garden up to 4 inches.

Step 6: Irrigate efficiently
Overhead watering systems, whether they are oscillating or automated sprinklers, can waste an enormous amount of water (upwards of 50 percent). Here are a few tips for efficient irrigation:

• Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses installed beneath the mulch to reduce water lost to evaporation.

• Water in the early morning hours when the humidity is high, dew is present and the wind is low.

• Water deeply only once or twice a week to achieve a total of 1 inch of irrigation over the entire landscape per week. Frequent light waterings encourage surface roots that dry out quickly.

• Install a rain gauge to determine how much irrigation or rainfall has been received.

• Follow all watering restrictions (see page 96).There are statewide restrictions, but local districts may have tighter regulations. Call your water company if you’re unsure what restrictions are in place.


Step 7: Properly maintain your landscape
A healthy landscape can take the stress of a drought, so here are some tips to achieve this goal.

• Remove weeds frequently. They use water that could be used for other plants.

• Cut turf grass at the proper height. In severe or extreme drought, raise the level on your lawnmower.

• If you prune or mow, make sure the blades of your equipment are sharp. A clean cut loses less water than a jagged one.

• Limit the use of fertilizers high in nitrogen during a drought, because it encourages new growth that needs a lot of water.

If we all take just a little time and implement some easy-to-follow guidelines, then our landscapes will look great and use less water.