Xeriscaping is landscaping and gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for additional water from irrigation. These are promoted in areas where there is no accessible, abundant, or reliable fresh water supply, and gain acceptance in other areas as access to water becomes more limited. Xeriscape can be an alternative to many different types of traditional gardening.
In some areas, the terms as water conservation landscape , drought resistant landscape , and smart scaping are used instead. Plants whose natural requirements conform to the local climate are emphasized, and care is taken to avoid water loss to evaporation and escape. Specific plants used in xeriscape depend on climate. Xeriscape is different from the natural landscape, because the emphasis on xeriscape is on the selection of plants for water conservation, not necessarily selecting native plants.
Public perceptions of xeriscape are often negative because many assume that this type of landscape is a poor cactus and gravel stretch. However, research has shown that education in water conservation practices in the landscape can greatly improve public perceptions about xeriscaping.
Video Xeriscaping
Etymology and similar terms
Denver Water coined the term xeriscape in 1981 by combining "landscape" with the Greek prefix xero - , from xeros , which means dry. The term zero-scaping or zeroscaping is sometimes replaced for xeriscaping due to phonetic similarities. When used seriously, zero-scaping usually refers to a variety of low-water landscapes that are often hollow, or almost without crops. Since the term is derived from the Greek root xeros , xeriscaping is sometimes misspelled xeroscaping .
Maps Xeriscaping
Benefits
- Lower water consumption: Xer-shaped landscapes can reduce water use by 60% or more compared to regular grass landscapes.
- Make more water available for domestic use and other communities and the environment.
- Reduce Maintenance: In addition to the occasional weeding and mulch Xeriscaping requires much less maintenance time and effort.
- Xeriscape plants with appropriate planting designs, and gradations of soil and mulch, make full use of rainfall retention.
- Less maintenance costs: Xeriscaping requires less fertilizer and equipment, mainly due to reduced grass areas.
- Reduce waste and pollution: Grass cuts can contribute to organic waste in landfills and heavy use of fertilizer contribute to urban runoff pollution.
Legal issues
Some homeowners associations have strict rules that require a certain percentage of the land to be used as grass but these rules have been or are in the process of being reversed in many areas.
Principles
Originally drafted by Denver Water, the seven principles of xeriscape design have evolved into simple and workable concepts to create landscapes that use less water. These principles are appropriate for some areas and may serve as guidelines for creating appropriate regional water conservation landscapes and because they are conceived for their homeowners is easy to implement.
1. Plan and design: Create a diagram, drawn to scale, showing the main elements of the landscape, including houses, driveways, sidewalks, decks or terraces, existing trees, and other elements.
Once the basic plan of the existing site has been determined, the creation of a conceptual plan (bubble diagram) that shows areas for grass, eternal beds, views, screens, slopes, etc. Do. Once completed, the development of a planting plan that strengthens the area on the right scale is done.
2. Land Amendment Ã, - Most plants will benefit from the use of compost, which will help the soil to retain water. Some desert plants prefer gravel lands rather than well-altered soil. Plants should be in accordance with the soil or soil should be changed to fit the plants.
3. Efficient Irrigation: Xeriscape can be efficiently irrigated by hand or by automatic sprinkler system. The grass zone area separately from other plants and uses irrigation methods that water the plants in every area most efficiently. For grass, use gear rotor or spray nozzle nozzles that have larger droplets and lower angles to avoid wind currents. Spray, drip line or emitter bubbler is most efficient for watering trees, shrubs, flowers, and groundcovers.
If watering by hand, avoid oscillating sprinklers and other sprinklers that dispose of water high into the air or release fine mist. The most efficient sprinkler releases large drops close to the ground.
Water is deep and rarely to develop deep roots. Never run water during the day to reduce water lost by evaporation. By using an automatic watering system, adjust the controller every month to accommodate weather conditions. Also, attach the rain sensor to turn off the device when it rains.
4. Selection of appropriate plants and zones: Different areas in the yard receive different amounts of light, wind and humidity. To minimize wastewater, group the plants with the same light and water needs, and place them in areas that fit this requirement. Place plants that use medium water in low drainage areas, near the bed, or under other plants. Grass usually requires the most water and perennial bushes/beds will require about half the amount of water. Dry and sunny areas support low water plants that grow well in our climate. Planting different plants with different heights, colors, and textures creates interest and beauty.
5. Mulch: Mulch keeps plant roots cool, prevents hardened soil, minimizes evaporation and reduces weed growth. Organic mulch, such as bark flakes, pole stripping or wood grinding, should be applied in 2 to 4 inches. Fiber mulch makes a net that is more resistant to wind and rain that is swept clean. Inorganic mulches, such as rocks and gravel, should be applied 2 to 3 inches. Around the plants with stones make the area hotter; limit this exercise.
6. Limited grass areas: Indigenous grasses (warm seasons) that have been cultivated for lawn grass, such as buffalo grass and blue grama, can survive by a quarter of the required bluegrass varieties. The warm season grass is the greenest in June to September and chocolate throughout the year.
Genuine (winter) grasses such as bluegrass and high fescue, most green in spring and autumn and inactive in high summer. New bluegrass cultivars, such as Reveille, and high fescue, can reduce the typical bluegrass water requirement by at least 30 percent. Fescue can provide substantial water savings and is best used in areas that receive low traffic or are in a shady location.
Use appropriate grasses and limit the amount of grass to reduce watering and maintenance needs.
7. Maintenance: All landscaping requires several levels of care throughout the year. Grass requires spring aeration and autumn along with routine fertilization every 6 to 8 weeks. Keep the grass high on 3 inches and let the clippings fall. Trees, shrubs and perennials will require occasional pruning to remove dead rods, increase growth or height of bloom and spread. Most of the discarded plant material can be shredded and used in the composting pile.
Grass
One of the main challenges to the public acceptance of xeriscaping is the grass-tangled cultural attachment of grass. Originally implemented in the UK, grasses in some areas become a symbol of prosperity, order, and community. In the grass lawn of the United States it is very common that it is the single most irrigated plant by surface area, encompassing nearly 128,000 square kilometers (49,000 sqÃ, mi). Although water costs, fertilizers and high maintenance are linked to grass, they have become the norm in most urban and suburban areas, even if they are rarely used for recreational purposes or otherwise. Xeriscaped landscapes offer an alternative to grass lawn usage in excess but are not widely accepted because of the preconceived notion of what it means for xeriscape. Xeriscape can cover the grass area but try to reduce it to areas that will actually be used, rather than using it as a standard landscape plan.
See also
References
Additional resources
- Loneliness results are beneficial among grass experts - San Antonio Express-News
- Arizona University Co-op Cooperation Bulletin AZ1048
- [1] Landscape Plant for Desert Climate, 2010, AMWUA
- [2] LandscapeWithStyle.com, 2009, AMWUA
External links
Country program
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments