Xeriscaping...

Easy as 1-2-3
Simple steps to transform your landscape
By Kara Csibrik

Landscaping in our arid climate

doesnt have to be a challenge. There are many beautiful plants that require little water and do well in Colorados clay soils. Put a few of these species together and youve created a beautiful xeriscape, or waterwise landscape. In the following pages, the how-tos of xeriscape installation will be covered.
Begin with a Plan
Always start your landscaping project with a good plan. This can be professionally designed, a replication of an admired existing landscape or created from scratch. Pay attention to the color palette, foliage texture, mature height and width of the plants and watering requirements. Variation in height and texture will add visual interest to the landscape, but make sure to group plant species so that enough visual impact is created for them to be noticed. Generally, taller plants create the backdrop of the landscape complimented by lower plants in the foreground. If a severe slope is present, it might be possible to place the shorter plants in the background.

struggling to establish itself. Kentucky Blue Grass, a common turf grass, uses more water from the soil than xeric plants as well. There are a number of options for removing turf. A sod-cutter is a machine that can be rented and will do the job quickly. The removed sod can be rolled up and set aside where it will self-compost and can be returned to the landscape. Another option is to flip the sod over, grass side down, and a similar process will occur. If this method is used, keep track of any new shoots and remove as necessary. It will take a number of weeks for the turf to die and break down. Covering turf with heavy amounts of newspaper will also kill grass. The newspaper will also decompose which adds organic matter to the soil.

The 7 principles of Xeriscaping:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Plan and design Limit turf areas Install efficient irrigation Improve the soil Use mulch

6. Use low water plants 7. Maintain plants

Turf Removal
If youre renovating an existing landscape, you may need to remove turf to make way for the new xeric plants. Xeric plants should never be planted within live turf, as most lawn-type grasses are very aggressive and will out-compete a xeric plant as it is 6 www.ConservationCenter.org

The fastest non-chemical method of removing turf is to solarize it by placing clear plastic over the area. The turf (and any weed seeds) will exhaust itself with fast growth in response to the excessive heat and light and will quickly burn-out. Beneficial microbes and insects in the soil are likely to be killed using this method and should be considered before solarizing the turf.

To identify what type of soil you have, perform this simple soil identification test:
Fill a 1 quart jar full of soil from your yard Fill the jar up to full of water Shake well to suspend soil Place on a flat surface and allow soil to settle

watering, is recommended to promote extensive root growth. Deep watering is most easily accomplished by slowly (to prevent runoff) hand watering close to the surface. Dont forget to water during the winter- once every three weeks or so should be sufficient.

Soil Improvements
Soil Type & Amendments Many xeric plants require well-drained sandy to loamy soils, while many Colorado urban landscapes are characterized as clay, so it is important to prep your planting plot by slightly amending the soil. Whether you have sandy or clay soils, the best amendment to improve soil quality is organic material. Organic material helps break up the soil for better air and water penetration. Organics will also improve the water-holding capacity of sandy soil. Organic materials include peat moss, grass clippings, leaves, compost, chopped straw, and well-rotted manure. To improve heavy clay soils, add l0 bushels, or one-half cubic yard, of organic matter per 1,000 square feet of ground. When adding organic matter, work it in as deep as the root system will extend. (This should be about 6-8 inches for most xeriscape plants). Keep in mind that too much organic matter can also be detrimental for your plants; it can cause your plants to bloom prolifically when they are first planted, but then cause the frequency of their blooms to diminish. Drainage Most xeric plants prefer well drained soils. To identify what type of drainage you have, dig a hole in the garden area about 1 inches deep and the diameter of a spade. Pour water in the hole to the rim. Refill the hole a day later and observe how long it takes for all the water to soak in. If the water soaks in within a few minutes, the subsoil drainage may be too good. Such soils may not hold enough water to sustain plant life and can loose valuable nutrients through leaching. If the water takes more than one hour to soak in, the subsoil drainage may be poor. Plants may suffer from oxygen starvation (drowning) under these conditions. Clay soils tend to hold water and have poor drainage, while too sandy of a soil will hold hardly any water at all. As mentioned above, the best solution to overly clay or sandy soils is to add organic matter. * Note: Do not try to add sand to clay- a cement will form (adobe)!

A wilted plant can mean its not getting enough water, but it can also mean that its getting too much.
Over-watering plants can be a problem. Make sure that your plants are not constantly sitting in water. Watering every other day to daily may be too much for your plants in the type of soil you have. Always check the soil to make sure that your plants need water before watering them. If any new plants are added to the landscape over time, try to group them by their watering requirements. This will ensure that plants remain healthy and efficiently watered. Drip Irrigation Drip irrigation applies water very efficiently to perennial plants, shrubs or bushes because the water is applied directly to the base of the plant at a very slow rate. Drip irrigation offers uniform watering, encourages fewer weeds, saves water, and is cost effective. Drip systems experience reduced evaporation, mist, surface runoff, and wind interference. The amount and rate of water released at each plant can be customized controlling run-off and reducing water waste. When establishing plants using drip irrigation it is recommended that you water about 1 hours two times a week.

Clay Silt

Sand

You can also determine soil type by feeling it.

Efficient Irrigation
When establishing a garden, even a xeriscape, it is necessary to water more frequently than when the garden has matured. (It can take up to three years to fully establish your garden.) This additional care and supplemental watering is important to the success of your new garden. In the first year a xeric plant has the same water requirements as a non-xeric plant. Plants require watering every other day to daily depending on the weather and on their condition. Once established, xeric plants only need watering about two times a week. Deep watering, rather than shallow surface

The foundation of any drip irrigation system is a network of closed plastic pipes. These plastic pipes can be snaked above ground (or under mulch) between the bases of the plants being watered. Where the plastic pipe meets the base of the plant, a hole can be punched into the pipe and an emitter installed. The emitter can be a simple plastic device that releases water in gallons per hour (emitters are often available in 1, , or 3 GPH levels), or devices that can be mounted on a stake and spray heavy water droplets across a slightly larger area. (Some emitters are available that actually mist water, but these are not water efficient).

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Spaghetti tube, a smaller, highly flexible plastic pipe, can also be attached and branched off from where the hole was made in the larger pipe to aid in getting water exactly where it is needed. The various emitter devices can be installed at the open end of the spaghetti tube. Be sure to pay attention to the carrying capacity of the entire main line. For example, if the main pipe can carry 00 gallons in an hour (and assuming the water emitted from the hose is output at a rate of at least 00 gallons per hour), then the outputs of the emitters installed should not exceed more than 00 gallons per hour. A little math is involved in designing a drip system, but its well worth the time and the brain power. There are a few essentials that should be included on any drip system. Drip systems operate on low pressure and should always include a pressure reducer that regulates pressure to at least 30psi or less. The pressure reducer is usually attached to the hose bib, where the drip system connects to the water source. This pressure reducer should also include a filter that can catch any particles that could potentially clog emitters. Invest in good quality drip irrigation parts that will last for many seasons and are less likely to break, resulting in water waste. Also, never attach a soaker or leaky hose to a drip system. Water is emitted throughout the entire

In the first year a Xeric plant has the same water requirements as a non Xeric plant.

length of the hose and is unregulated. This will wreak havoc on the output of the rest of the drip system. Be sure to inspect the drip system regularly for damage. Wear and tear, and occasionally animals, can cause parts to break. Breaks in the pipes can be easily fixed with connectors or parts available at the hardware store.

It is recommend that mulch be placed around the plants on the soil surface about 1-3 deep depending on the height of the plant. It is also important to place mulch around the plant, but not against the plant. This is important because rodents or insects living in the mulch may feed on the plant and damage or kill it. Mulches can be either organic or inorganic: Rock mulch is inorganic. Bark mulch is organic. In Colorados hot, sometimes windy climate, the best option is probably fine cedar shavings because they knit together and are less likely to be blown away. If bark mulch forms a mold or a slimy substance underneath the top layer, dont be alarmed. This is just the natural process of microbes breaking down the mulch into organic matter. Your plants will love it.

Mulches
Mulch is a material placed on top of the soil to reduce surface evaporation, improve water penetration and air movement, control soil temperature fluctuations, protect shallow-rooted plants from freeze damage and frost-heave, and improve soil structure and nutrient availability.

Gallons Per Hour (GPH) Cheat Sheet

- A typical one gallon xeric perennial should receive approximately to 1 GPH, or 1- gallons per week. - A typical 5 gallon shrub, such as a lilac, should receive 4 GPH, or 8 gallons per week. - A typical large shrub should receive 4-10 GPH, or 10-0 gallons per week. - A typical tree should receive 10 gallons per week per caliper inch. (For example, a 4 tree would be set for 10-0 GPH or 10 gallons per week).
Source: Allison Irrigation

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Bark chips, fine shavings, and rocks can be placed on the soil surface to protect plants and to reduce water evaporation.

Maintenance
In terms of maintenance, xeric plants fall into three different categories. There are plants that need to be trimmed back, there are plants that need to be dead headed (taking the dead flowers off of the plant), and there are plants that dont need any additional care at all. The plants that need to be trimmed back exist in two categories: either the entire plant needs to be sheared back by about after the plant blooms to allow the plant to grow back and bloom again, or the plant needs to be sheared back in the

winter or early spring to prevent leggyness. When a plant is leggy its branches grow long, thin and straggly and tend to be sparse of foliage. The plants that need to be dead headed also exist in two categories: either they just need to be dead headed (the removal of spent blooms to prolong blooming) or they need to be dead headed to prevent the plant from reseeding itself. The rest of the plants require very little maintenance if any at all. In the winter you may cut the dead limbs back for aesthetic purposes. Happy xeriscaping!

Free Xeriscape Seminars

April 14 - Xeriscaping: Easy Water Wise Beauty 9:00am-12:00pm Lafayette Public Library. Downstairs Meeting Room. 775 West Baseline Rd.. Lafayette (must be Lafayette water customer). April 17 - Lawn Care and Effective Water Practices 9:00am-12:00pm Lafayette Public Library. Downstairs Meeting Room. 775 West Baseline Rd.. Lafayette (must be Lafayette water customer). April 19 - Xeriscaping: Easy Water Wise Beauty 6:30pm-8:30pm Longmont Public Library, Meeting Rooms A & B. 409 4th Ave. Longmont. April 25 - Irrigating to Meet your Water Budget 6:30pm-8:45pm Meadows Branch Library. Public Meeting Room. 4800 Baseline Road. Boulder. April 28 - Irrigation System Maintenance and Tips 9:00am-12:00pm Lafayette Public Library, Downstairs Meeting Room. 775 West Baseline Rd. Lafayette (must be Lafayette water customer). May 3 - Xeriscaping to Meet your Water Budget: Plant Selection 6:30pm-8:45pm Boulder Public Library, Boulder Creek Room. 1000 Canyon Blvd. Boulder. May 9 - Irrigation System Maintenance and Tips 6:30pm-8:30pm Longmont Public Library, Meeting Rooms A & B. 409 4th Ave. Longmont.

Register online at www.ConservationCenter.org or call 303.441.3278 ext. 17.

Some xeric plants need to be trimmed and dead headed, and some will be fine if left alone. Conservation Magazine 9