From: Sunset
Here's how to create a beautiful, easy-care landscape that saves water, too…
Here's how to create a beautiful, easy-care landscape that saves water, too…
Follow these guidelines to create the most water-efficient garden possible.
1. Consider the Soil
Most landscape plants establish faster when planted in native soils
without the addition of amendments. If your soil is sandy or rocky, you
may need to add compost. Annuals, thirstier perennials, lawns, and
vegetables benefit from the addition of compost.
2. Choose the Right Plants
Consider natives or
introductions from other Mediterranean climates that have similar
rainfall and soil conditions. Check out the water-wise plants offered in
the Sunset Western Garden Collection.
3. Group Plants
Site plants with similar water,
soil, and light needs together (in areas often referred to as "zones").
Place the most colorful (often the thirstiest) groupings near outdoor
living areas. Use drip irrigation or low-flow spray heads to deliver
water directly to the root zone without the overspray or runoff typical
of conventional sprinklers.
4. Irrigate Efficiently
Irrigate established plants
thoroughly but infrequently to encourage roots to grow downward; they
will be buffered from the wet-dry cycle typical of the upper soil area
and may even tap into groundwater.
5. Water Deeply.
6. Mulch
Cover bare ground with a 3-inch layer of
mulch to help conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the soil
cooler; renew annually. Organic types, such as bark mulch, improve soil
structure and encourage beneficial microbes.
