Take a step into the xeriscape, I dare you. No, that’s not an alternate universe, even though it may sound like it.  Derived from the Greek word xeros, meaning dry, and our modern day word, landscape, xeriscaping refers to landscaping in areas with extremely dry climates. In other words, xeriscaping is landscaping with the goal of conserving water and adapting to drought.

As drought becomes ever more frequent and land around the world dries up, home and business-owners alike have turned to landscaping strategies that conserve water. These changes don’t have to be drastic – even something as simple as planting a few new, less-thirsty plants can make a big impact, allowing your garden to thrive even in the midst of extreme drought.

Let’s review the top 5 tips for how to create a garden landscape that conserves water.

5 Tips for Drought-Friendly Landscaping

1. Plant native plants

It’ll come as a surprise to absolutely no one that plants that are native to dry areas are better at living in those areas than other, nonnative species. Planting native grasses and other plants in drought-prone areas is a crucial method of ensuring your plants will thrive in the dry environment. This doesn’t just mean planting cacti, of course. There are a number.of native plants that still flower and feel quite lush while requiring less water. Take the California Mountain Lilac, for example, a plant native to (you guessed it) sunny California. These beautiful blue-purple flowers are extremely drought tolerant, require very little fertilizer, and can be planted on their own, as a patio tree, hedge, or even as an accent wall (espaliered).

It’s important to note that “native” is not synonymous with “less thirsty,” and the definition of drought varies from place to place. For example, a plant that would thrive in what’s considered a drought in the northeastern United States may shrivel and die in California’s climate. Make sure you do the research to figure out what “drought-resistant” means in your area.

2. Ditch the traditional lawn

In the summer, an average grassy lawn can use 125 gallons of water for every 1000 square feet every single day. That’s the same amount of water it would take to fill around four full bathtubs. While that may not sound like a ton of water, the costs to your water bill and the environment add up quickly.

Native grasses and other grass options that use less water are a great way to conserve. For example, fescue grasses, a variety of grass that is slightly longer and softer than the typical lawn grass, requires extremely low maintenance and almost no water. You can even mix in wildflowers for an extra “festive” garden look.

You may also choose to forego grass completely, and focus on using other materials instead. For example, rock and sand-based gardens have become much more popular in recent years. These often incorporate succulents or other low water plants mixed in around carefully placed rocks and pebbles. Many landscaping companies in Maidstone are also beginning to offer synthetic “waterless” lawns, which require little to no maintenance and, of course, no water.

Many waterless lawn options can help save you money. Today, Americans spend nearly $50 billion on lawn and garden supplies every single year – and much of this money goes toward grassy lawn care. Non-traditional options often require much less lawn maintenance, saving you money, as well as less water, fertilizers, and other materials. For example, Opulands, a landscape design company in San Jose, California (a place notorious for its dry climate and lack of water), explains that while synthetic lawns may be more expensive upfront, the amount of money you save from lower water and maintenance makes it worth it in the long run.

3. Promote healthy soil

Say it with me: healthy soil means hydrated soil. Your garden soil is home to a vast community of microbiota, including bacteria, fungi, and even worms. Providing these living organisms with the right balance of nutrients and ensuring proper soil care helps ensure your soil is healthy- and healthy soil holds more moisture. Many at-home gardeners turn to regenerative agriculture practices, a set of farming techniques that aim not only to avoid damaging their soil, but to actually improve soil health. This may include disturbing the soil as little as possible or using natural fertilizers and pest control methods. Not only can this help soil absorb more water, but it can also help promote biodiversity and even fight climate change through storing carbon in the soil.

It’s also important to make sure your soil is covered by other plants, sometimes known as cover crops. When soil is left to bake in the sun, it dries out very quickly, which reduces its fertility. In order to have a thriving garden that has enough moisture, consider planting trees or other shrubs to ensure your soil has the protection it needs.

4. Group plants with similar water needs together

This tip is really just common sense, but you’d be surprised how many landscapers and gardeners don’t heed this advice: group plants that need similar amounts of water together! Putting plants that require lots of water near each other ultimately allows you to use less water than if you had to water your entire yard. Additionally, if a plant that requires little water is right next to a plant that guzzles water, the low-water plant can actually end up getting over-watered.

5. Capture rainwater

If you do live in an area with occasional rain, consider capturing it to use for your garden. There are a number of methods to do this. Some people collect water from their roof and gutters, and store it in a tank to use during periods with less rainfall. If a rainwater collection tank isn’t for you, consider using a rain-garden instead. A rain-garden is an area of your garden that is slightly lower than the rest that collects rainwater and runoff (for short periods of time – the water usually absorbs within a few hours). When it rains, the rain-garden will absorb more water, letting it seep through the soil into groundwater or allowing plants growing on top to use the water. Rain-gardens help capture water more efficiently to help plants growing in the area absorb more in the long run.

6. Avoid automatic irrigation systems

While many homes depend on automatic irrigation systems to keep their lawns and gardens watered, experts estimate that nearly half of this water is actually wasted on overwatering. While an automatic watering system is certainly convenient, it doesn’t take into account changes in temperature or weather that may change the amount of water your garden actually needs. That said, manually watering your outdoor areas can become extremely time consuming- and for those of us without a green thumb, it can be hard to remember to actually water your plants!

Instead of an automatic irrigation system, many homeowners are turning to smart watering systems that use soil-moisture sensors or information about local weather conditions to make decisions about when to water your garden. Look out for a WaterSense label, a certification that shows the irrigation system is water-efficient.