Averaging around 12.26” of annual rainfall, Utah is one of the driest states in the country—the second, in fact. Only Nevada receives less rainfall per year than The Beehive State. While Utah’s low rainfall leads to stunning deserts and red rock landscapes, it also means that residential landscaping is tough to maintain. Plants, bushes, trees, and grass have a hard time getting the moisture that they need in the dry climate. One solution to this problem is a type of landscaping called xeriscaping or zeroscaping.
Before deciding to convert all your landscaping into xeriscaping, here are four key things you need to know.
1. What is xeriscaping?
Though xeriscaping originated in the 1980s, xeriscaping is a foreign concept for most people. The word “xeriscaping” combines the Greek word for dry (xeros) and landscaping, essentially a type of landscaping for dry regions. Many people, especially in drought-prone areas, are turning to xeriscaping because it requires little maintenance or irrigation. Even with little care and water, xeriscaping still produces beautiful landscapes for homes and businesses.
2. What plants should I have in my xeriscaping?
When you do xeriscaping, you need to be conscious about which plants you include. After all, not all plants can withstand dry conditions. Plants that do work well for xeriscaping are often called xeric plants. However, even the xeric plants you choose need to be drought-tolerant for the area where you live. For instance, drought-tolerant plants on the East Coast are vastly different from drought-tolerant plants in Southern Utah. Keep in mind that you have drought-resistant options for trees, shrubs, and flowers.
Drought-Resistant Flowers
● Santa Barbara Daisy
● Mexican Cardinal Flower
● Purple Poppy-Mallow
● Sonoma Sage
● Equinox Flower
● Coneflower
● Lavender
Drought-Resistant Trees
● Curl-Leaf Mountain Mahogany
● Crape Myrtle
● Texas Mountain Laurel
● Common Catalpa
● Southern Live Oak
● Russian Hawthorn
● Rocky Mountain Juniper
Drought-Resistant Shrubs
● Shore Juniper
● Lavender Cotton
● Lindheimer’s Beeblossom
● Beloperone
● Baja Fairy Duster
● Red Bird of Paradise
3. What are the rules of xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping has gained the reputation of being just cacti and desert grasses, but that doesn’t have to be the case. So, if you don’t have to use desert or native plants, what makes a xeriscape a xeriscape? Fortunately, there are several principles in place to help you have a stunning xeriscape.
● Thoughtful landscape design and planning
● Limited turf grass
● Drought-friendly plants
● Effective irrigation
● Mulch incorporation
● Fitting landscape maintenance and pruning
By consciously planting plants with similar needs together, it’s much easier to provide them with the care they need. Additionally, by incorporating mulch and pruning your plants as needed, you won’t use any more water than is necessary.
4. Why would I want to xeriscape?
Many people who make the switch to xeriscape do so because they live in arid climates, but it’s not the only reason to do it. Some of the top reasons for xeriscaping include:
● Less yard work
● Less water usage
● Aesthetics
Xeriscapes rarely need more than occasional pruning to flourish, so you can save time on maintaining your yard. Beyond that, xeriscaping is an excellent choice for the environment and your wallet because the less water you use, the lower your water bill will be.
Ultimately, xeriscaping is becoming more popular for a reason. The dry landscaping techniques that work well in dry regions can also apply in other regions. Regardless of where you live, xeriscaping is a great landscaping option to save money, time, and the environment. With these four things in mind, now is a great time to decide if xeriscaping is right for your yard. For all your xeriscaping needs in Southern Utah, turn to Rock On Walls & Falls!
