My adventure in xeriscaping began with my parents deciding to build a new house. As all new homes need to be landscaped this project was given to me. I have the most experience and knowledge of this subject in the family as I love plants and have been selling them for several years. I am by no means a expert and this endeavor will be a learning experience for me, hence the adventure part of the title.
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| Sedum |
I did not start out with the intention of xeriscaping my parent's yard. I started with the intent to plan as water wise landscape as my parents would allow while making it colorful and aesthetically pleasing. With this intent, I went to Utah's water wise website to expand my list of water wise perennials, trees, and shrubs. This is where my ideas of xeriscaping were challenged, like many (and here is where I admit to my ignorance) I thought that xeriscaping consisted mostly of rocks, sedum and plants that grow in the West Desert. I found that many of the beautiful, colorful plants that I already knew can be used to xeriscape a yard; plants like Russian Sage, Lilacs, and Smoke Trees. I learned that xeriscaping means replacing high water using grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass with water sipping plants that require minimal watering over what nature provides. This style of landscaping uses these plants to create lots of color and texture and still use much less water than a green lawn. This website (
http://www.waterwiseplants.utah.gov/) also proved to be a great resource for me because the photos of landscapes that people along the Wasatch Front have done allowed me to convince my parents that xeriscaping would be a good idea.
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| Smoke Tree |
Now that I have permission to xeriscape their yard all of the fun can begin. First, I need to compile a list of possible plants. Then categorize them by water and light needs as well as height so that I know where they can be placed in the design. Next, I need to do some fun leg work and go visit the local nurseries to locate them (I may have to grow some from seed). Once, I have found them I can put my plans on paper. Finally, after the house is all built (expected date of move in Labor day weekend) the planting will begin.
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| Xeriscaped Yard |
Throughout this process I plan on not only posting updates of the home's construction and xeriscaping but will write about important things to know about xeriscaping your yard and why you should. By the end of this process I hope to have convinced a few of my readers to chance their golf course like landscape to resemble a water wise color bowl. Xeriscaping its not just wise, its beautiful.
