Water-Wise Landscaping: Seven Steps

Karen Panter, Ph.D.Extension Horticulture Specialist

Department of Plant Sciences

Your Logo

Here

Seven Steps

• Credit goes to Denver Water

– Originators of the xeriscape concept

– And the seven steps

Seven Steps

• Planning and Design

• Limiting Turf Areas

• Selecting and Zoning Plants

• Improving the Soil

• Using Mulches

• Irrigating Efficiently

• Maintaining Appropriately

Planning and Design

• Site analysis

– Boundaries

– Structures

– Patios

– Decks

– Walkways

• Site analysis

– Existing plants

Planning and Design

• Look for microclimates

– Orientation

– Wind exposure

– Slope

• Usage analysis

– Kids

– Pets

– Entertaining

Planning and Design

• Design

– Enhance certain areas

– Block certain views

• Implement in stages

– Time

– $$

Limiting Turf Areas

• Decks

• Patios

• Walkways

• Garden areas

• Kids

• Pets

Limiting Turf Areas

• Avoid “zeroscape”

– Total absence of turf

– Rocks, yucca, and cactus

Selecting and Zoning Plants

• Misunderstood step

• Low water requiring desert

Selecting and Zoning Plants

• Water requirements influenced by

– Plant species

– Temperature

– Soil conditions

– Slope

– Wind exposure

– Sun exposure

Selecting and Zoning Plants

• Group plants together

– similar water requirements

• Low water requiring

• Medium water requiring

• High water requiring

• Irrigate accordingly

Improving the Soil

• Our soils generally poor

– Clay

– Sand

• Add organic matter

Improving the Soil

• Organic matter

– Well-composted manure

– Good quality compost

– Peat moss

• Two inch layer

– Rototill

– Spade

Using Mulches

• Cover soil

• Reduce evaporation

• Slow erosion

• Slow weed growth

• Regulate soil temperature

Using Mulches

• Organic

– Decompose

– Improve soil

– Add periodically

– Bark

– Wood chips

– Pine needles

– Others

Using Mulches

• Inorganic

– Won’t decompose

– Gravel

– Cobblestone

– Lava rock

– Clay aggregates

– Others

Using Mulches

• On soil

• 3 to 4 inch layer

• Avoid plastic

– Restricts water

– Restricts air

Irrigating Efficiently

• Common misconception:

– Once planted, water savings start immediately

• Plants need establishment time

Irrigating Efficiently

• Base watering on need– Not schedule

• Automatic systems– Adjust according to

season

• Drip systems– Can be efficient

• Manual watering– According to need

Irrigating Efficiently

• Watering tips

– Water in the morning

– Avoid during the heat of the day

– Avoid when windy

Maintaining Appropriately

• Every yard requires maintenance

• Still need to

– Weed

– Mow

– Prune

– Fertilize

– Maintain sprinklers

– Winter water

Seven Steps

• Planning and Design

• Limiting Turf Areas

• Selecting and Zoning Plants

• Improving the Soil

• Using Mulches

• Irrigating Efficiently

• Maintaining Appropriately

Discussion Points

• Retrofits

• Limitations of drip irrigation

• Plant material

• Turf types (next presentation)

• Other?

More questions?

Karen Panter, Ph.D.

kpanter@uwyo.edu

307-766-5117