Drought tolerant landscaping is not just for arid climates. Water conservation has become a bigger issue in recent years due to increased demand and expense. Climate change has contributed to the problem, with more regions experiencing intermittent or long-term droughts.
Creating landscapes that use less water, also known as xeriscaping, is becoming more common and imperative. Some communities have instituted restrictions on water use and the type of plants that can be grown. Whether you live in a desert or a climate that receives more rainfall, there are many ways you can reduce usage or conserve water in your yard. Here are some tips and ideas to get you started.
Why Is Drought Tolerant Landscaping a Good Idea?
California’s new water restrictions carry hefty fines to help encourage households and businesses to curb water-wasting actions like watering plants and lawns during the day, washing your car, or even watering down your sidewalk or driveway.
With this continued drought, landscapes and lawns that used to be green and lush are all turning brown—and not just in the summertime anymore!
Drought Tolerant vs. Drought Resistant
Though these terms are used interchangeably, there is a difference. Drought tolerant landscaping utilizes plants that have adapted through evolution to thrive with minimal water. These include cacti and other desert plants. Drought-resistant landscaping involves using plants that can survive extended periods of dry weather, but do best with moderate or regular water. These include prairie plants such as coneflower, blazing star, and black-eyed Susan, along with other regional native trees, shrubs, and perennials.
What About My Beautiful Lawn?
The phrases “zeroscaping” or “drought tolerant landscaping” may bring to mind a dry, dusty, and dull landscape of sand and rock. We’re pleased to inform you this is simply a common misconception!
Below, you will find practical drought tolerant landscaping ideas that are not only water-wise but also increase the curb appeal of your home.
4 Drought Tolerant Landscaping Ideas
Learn more about each of these drought-tolerant landscape design techniques below.
1. Xeriscape With Native Plants From San Diego
Xeriscaping, also known as “zeroscaping,” is a technique for landscaping in which the use of water, energy, and chemical fertilizers is reduced as much as possible.
Save water without sacrificing beauty by using drought-tolerant succulents like Panda, Medicine, Jade, and Snake plants, as well as California native plants like the Desert Willow and the California Fuchsia. Native plants are a staple for a San Diego xeriscape design because they need very little care as they are already acclimated to San Diego’s climate.
At Eco Minded Solutions, we specialize in incorporating native plants into our xeriscape designs, ensuring your landscape thrives with minimal water usage. Contact us today for softscape services in San Diego!
2. Hardscape Your Way to Water Savings
If you want to eliminate landscaping water usage, you can use hardscaping to transform your backyard into a luxurious outdoor entertainment area. There are water incentives available in San Diego for home and business owners.
Replacing your stretch of brown grass with an extended patio, entertainment area, outdoor kitchen, or pool is a great solution. Hardscape yards make space for activities, require less maintenance, and overall use fewer resources while still looking good.
While not always the best backyard option for homes with young children, hardscape design in San Diego makes for a nice, clean, and organized look that can’t always be accomplished with plants. Eco Minded Solutions can help you create a beautiful, drought-tolerant landscape that fits your lifestyle.
3. Replace High Water-Use Lawns With Native Plants
Since our founding in 2007, Eco Minded Solutions has been a leader in designing and building drought-tolerant landscapes for homes looking to replace their lawns throughout San Diego County.
There are many alternatives to just accepting parched grass, bare dirt or gravel, or paying for expensive water (and risking fines for illegal overuse of water). Native plants offer a vibrant and sustainable solution, providing color and life to your landscape without the high water demand.
4. Smart Irrigation for a Sustainable Lawn
If you need a lawn for children to play in, or you just aren’t ready to let go of your green oasis, one way to reduce your water usage while keeping a lawn is to install underground irrigation, which is not covered by San Diego’s restriction on overhead watering.
We recommend this updated irrigation be installed at the same time the high water-use grass species is swapped out for a more water-wise grass or fescue. Smart irrigation systems help you save water through clever and efficient water distribution. Some of these low-water irrigation systems use drip irrigation, which can significantly reduce the risk of flooding your plants as well as reduce wasted water due to evaporation.
Coupled with instruments that can sense how sunny or wet it is, these systems help your landscape resist the drought with less maintenance and can even be set to auto-adjust based on the weather so your plants receive the water they need when they need it.
Drought Tolerant Landscaping Considerations
Here are some factors to consider with drought tolerant landscaping:
- Climate: Determine your USDA zone and average annual rainfall, which will help you choose what plants will work best in your area.
- Soil: Different soils have different water retention properties. Some drought-resistant plants prefer rich soil amended with compost, while others like cacti and succulents prefer leaner soil with good drainage.
- Light: Full sun areas cause water to evaporate more quickly, while shaded areas stay wetter for longer.
- Humidity: Evaporation occurs more quickly in low-humidity regions. For rainy, humid climates, evaporation is slower. Some regions have mixed humidity climates, such as Mediterranean climates with cool wet winters and warm dry summers.
How to Create a Drought-Tolerant Landscape
- Evaluate your site: Consider environmental factors such as light, soil, temperature, and humidity to determine what plants would be suitable for your landscape.
- Draw up a plan: Look to online and local sources for inspiration and create a rough sketch. For a more elaborate plan or difficult sites such as a slope, you may want to hire a landscape design professional.
- Amend soil: Depending on what you are planting, you may want to amend your soil. Amended soil retains moisture better and captures rainwater, while poorly compacted soil allows water to run off the surface.
- Choose drought-resistant or drought-tolerant plants: Select plants that require less water such as natives, sedums, succulents, and ornamental grasses. Plants with gray or silver foliage are often more drought-tolerant. Non-native ornamental plants from regions with similar climates, such as Australia, South Africa, and the Mediterranean, can also be good choices.
- Group plants with similar water needs: This will help conserve water and ensure healthier plants by avoiding over or underwatering.
- Place plants closer together: Beds that are more densely planted shade the soil, reducing water evaporation and suppressing weeds.
- Plant trees: Create a shade canopy with trees to cool your yard and home, act as a windbreak, and reduce water evaporation.
Water-Saving Ideas
- Reduce or eliminate your lawn: Turf lawns require a lot of water and maintenance. Consider replacing part of your lawn with drought-resistant garden beds or groundcovers.
- Use native plants: Plants that grow endemically in your area are adapted to your climate and growing conditions, requiring less supplemental water once established.
- Add permeable hardscape and outdoor rooms: Create pathways or transition areas with permeable materials to allow water to percolate into the ground.
- Collect rainwater: Install rain barrels or cisterns to collect water from gutter downspouts for later use in watering garden beds.
- Create a rain garden: Capture water, reduce runoff, and conserve water with rain gardens.
- Construct a water-efficient slope: Add tiers to slopes to help stem erosion and control rainwater runoff, placing the most drought-resistant plants at the top and the most water-loving plants at the bottom.
Maintenance
- Water wisely: Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to deliver water to plant roots efficiently. Water early or late in the day to reduce evaporation. Irrigate deeply and less frequently to encourage deep-root growth.
- Mulch: Add a layer of mulch around plants to retain moisture, cool the soil, and suppress weeds. Use organic mulch like compost, bark, or wood chips, and gravel for rock gardens.
- Weed: Keep out weeds that compete with garden plants for water.
About Eco Minded Solutions
Eco Minded Solutions is your premier provider of residential design and build services for your home and landscape. We focus on creating sustainable, drought-tolerant landscapes that enhance the beauty and functionality of your outdoor space while conserving water. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of San Diego residents. Contact us today to transform your landscape into a beautiful, water-wise oasis.
