The term Xeriscape comes from the Greek word 'xeros' which means 'dry' combined with 'scape' meaning 'dry landscape' but really it means landscaping with plants that need minimal water. Since about 70 percent of the water consumed by an average single-family home is used outdoors, the best place to start conserving water is in your garden. However, xeriscaping with plants that do not need a lot of water does not mean your garden has to look desolate!
Southwestern states have been xeriscaping the longest due to the fact that they have dry climates and it makes sense to not fight mother nature by growing high maintenance gardens and lawns. But with water becoming a diminishing resource everywhere, other states throughout the U.S. are now xeriscaping too.
Luckily, in Southern California, we have many drought resistant native plants and a climate that allows us to use low water plants from other similar dry climates like Australia, South Africa, the Middle East, and Mediterranean areas. Many of these plants are lush and beautiful and visually completely different than a typical southwest garden of cacti and rocks. There are many wonderful options, and we live in the perfect place for xeriscaping!
Water is still necessary with xeriscapes, especially when plants are new. However they become more drought resistant once established. Many drought tolerant native plants in the wild naturally have deep roots as part of their survival. New, nursery bought plants in pots will take a couple years at minimum to achieve the same deeper root systems as their counterparts in the wild.
Xeriscapes work well with low-pressure systems that deliver water right to the roots of the plants but don't go everywhere. A sub-surface water source not only feeds the roots without wasting it on the surface where it can evaporate, it encourages the roots to grow deeper beyond the root ball which ultimately makes it hardier and more drought resistant in the future. Once roots are established, they will require even less supplemental water.
Another important component to xeriscaping is using a ground cover like gravel or mulch. Mulch can be made from organic materials including leaves, grass clippings, straw, shredded bark, sawdust, wood chips, and cardboard. There is also rubber mulch made from recycled tires which does not decompose quickly. Ground cover does a multiple of jobs when it comes to xeriscaping. Most importantly, it helps keep the moisture in the soil and keeps the ground cooler in the summer. It also keeps weeds from competing with plants for water and nutrients.
Xeriscapes are most stunning when designed with a combination of softscapes and hardscapes. Softscape refers to trees, bushes, plants, ground cover, and the living aspects of the garden. Hardscape is the addition of pathways, planters, and outdoor living areas that can make your garden more inviting, accessible, and visually interesting. Hardscapes also mean less softscapes, and less water. The key is to design a layout that is a balance of the two so that your garden complements your home and is low maintenance; saving you water and money!
There are rebates being offered in Southern California to replace lawns we can help you through that process. We are also certified experts installing smart-water irrigation systems that are efficient and cost effective and are rebate worthy too!
Our team at Pacific Vista Landscape Services are experts when it comes to xeriscaping and knowing the vast variety of drought resistant plant options. We can work with you to design incredible soft and hardscapes to enhance your property which not only look great but will save you money too. Having a beautiful, low maintenance garden makes sense now and in the future!
It is time to up our commitment to water conservation and starting June 1st, 2022, new water restrictions will begin. The latest Drought Data has not only shown worsening conditions, it also shows that Californians have been lax in saving water the last couple of years, despite the threat of more intense drought conditions throughout California.
Los Angeles City
In Southern California, Los Angeles City areas have new restrictions for watering your landscape to no more than two days a week, and which days are determined by your street address. Also there is no watering between 9am-4pm. Watering is limited to a maximum of 15 minutes.
Different counties and metropolitan areas can implement more strict or lenient restrictions, depending on the data for their area.
Santa Clarita Valley
In Santa Clarita, the SCV Water’s Board of Directors voted Tuesday to move the Agency into Stage 2 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan. The move comes as California and the Santa Clarita Valley continue to face a severe drought with no end in sight.
"Despite planning for dry times, this drought has become so severe that we are having to dip into our banked water supplies," said SCV Water’s General Manager Matt Stone.
“Moving to Stage 2 will place new water restrictions in place to eliminate water waste and ensure we have enough water to meet the needs of our community.”
Santa Clarita Valley Stage 2 includes stage 1 and asks for consumers to voluntarily save at least 20% more:
Make sure to check with your local area to know what's allowed. Smart meters can really help make watering at certain times easy. Check out Smart Landscaping to see how!
Do you need to redo your sprinkler system? We can help! Contact us today!
Updated: May 3, 2022
There simply isn't enough water to meet the demands of our state, leading to a water shortage emergency declared by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Tuesday, April 26th, 2022. In response, it is implementing a program that will restrict outdoor watering to one day a week in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties.
The latest data collected has shown that Californians have actually been using more water instead of less, over the last two years, despite worsening drought conditions. In addition, according to Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, January, February and March which are usually our wettest months, were the driest on record.
Affecting about 6 million people in Southern California, the latest measures will begin June 1st, 2022. The hope is that this will reduce water usage by 20-30%. If this is not effective enough, outdoor watering might be eliminated completely by September 1st, according to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Here are some informative ways to help conserve water in your garden:
Here are some articles that can help make a difference in your water usage:
Looking to make changes to your residential or commercial landscape? We can help! Contact us today!
