PresentedByBudJonesNMSUGroundsManager Xeriscapingprojects - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

PresentedByBudJonesNMSUGroundsManager

Xeriscapingprojects

DefinitionofXERISCAPE Alandscapingmethoddeveloped especiallyforaridandsemiarid climatesthatutilizeswater conservingtechniques(astheuse

• fdroughttolerantplants,mulch,

andefficientirrigation).

Design

Whether your developing a new landscape , renovating an existing one, or just looking for ways to conserve water in an urban environment, proper planning and design are essential to creating a landscape.

Keys to success are:

• 1. Map it out
• 2. Shade is very cool
• 3. Identify micro climates
• 4. Plant selection

WhatisXeriscapingabout? Xeriscapeincorporatessevenwater conservingprinciples:

• Planninganddesign.
• Efficientirrigationsystems,properly

designedandmaintained.

• Useofmulch.
• Soilpreparation.
• Appropriateturf.
• Waterefficientplantmaterial.
• Appropriatemaintenance.

Irrigation

Irrigationisnecessaryinaxeric landscape,atleastduringthefirst fewyearswhiletheplants'root systemsaredeveloping.Following establishment,irrigationmaystill benecessarydependingonthe landscapedesignandplants' needs.InNewMexico,many landscapesneedirrigationforat leastaportionoftheplantedarea forthelifeofthegarden.Theoasis andthemoderatewaterusezones havethegreatestneedfor irrigation,butitiswisetoplan irrigationeveninthelowwater usezonetoallowfornewplanting, changes,andyearsofsevere drought.

UseofMulch

Mulchprovidesacoveroverthe soil,reducingevaporation,soil temperature,anderosion. Spreadingmulchoveryour gardensoilalsosuppresses weeds.Andover time,mulches madefromorganicmaterials breakdownandincreaseyour soil'sstructureandfertility.

SoilPreparation

Soilpreparationisanimportant partofsuccessfulxeriscapingand gardening.Whendonepriorto planting,soiltesting canhelp determinewhichplantsarebest adaptedtothesiteandwhich amendmentsareappropriatefor improvingthesoilfortheselected plants.Looseningthesoilimproves rootdevelopmentandallows betterinfiltrationofwaterandair neededbyplants'roots.Thisis importantinallwaterusezones.

Appropriateuseof turf

Oneofthemostcontroversialand misunderstoodofthexeriscaping principlesistheconceptof appropriateturf.Turfgrasseshavea placeinthelandscape,eventhe xeriscape.Turfiseasytomaintain, althoughitrequiresmorefrequent carethanmanyotherlandscape plants.Turfprovidesaplaysurface forchildrenandpets.Itisan importantelementincoolingthe localenvironment,reducing erosion,andpreventingglarefrom thesun.Othergroundcoverplants canperformthesefunctions exceptprovidingaplayingsurface foractivities.

Waterefficient plantmaterial

Therearemanyveryattractive plantsforuseinwaterwise landscapes.Whileyoumayuse manyofyouroldfavorites,thereis awidevarietyofcolorfulfragrant, andbeautifulplantsfortheless irrigatedpartofthelandscape. Manyhavelongbloomingseasons andattractiveleaves.Someprovide autumninterestwithcolorful foliageandfruit,whileothersoffer winterinterestwiththeirfruit, seedstalks,andwintercolors rangingfromsilver,togray,to manydifferentgreenandbrown shades.

DelospermafloribundaStarburst(r) HardyIcePlant

Genistalydia Lydia Broom

AlittlemoreaboutGenistalydia LydiaBroom Theslenderpendulousbranchesofthis"outstandingdwarfshrubarecoveredwithgolden yellowflowersinearlysummer.Sun/MedDry

Pennisetum alopecuroides – Fountain grass Chinese pennisetumisa perennial.

Thearchingmoundofbrightgreen foliageturnsgoldenbrowninwinter. Theflowerspikeletsarebornein bristlyyellowishtopurplishcylinders to8"long.Theyresemblebottle brushes,andareattheirpeakin summerandbegintodisintegrateby earlywinter.

Pennisetumsetaceum 'Rubrum'

PurpleFountainGrasshasa symmetricalandmoundinghabit.The reddishpurpleracemesmaybe12"in lengthandarchgracefullyabovethe burgundyfoliageinlatesummer.After thefirstkillingfrosts,thisornamental grassfadestoamber,andcontinuesto beawelcomedadditiontothewinter landscape.Itintroducesmotionwith everybreeze.Anannualinour climate.

Desertwillow Chilopsis linearis

Fluffypink/violetflowers NativetoSonoranDesert,especiallyin streambanks SWYavapai;eastHarvill;SWOld Main

Therealtaskathandistocreate balanceutilizingallseven principals.

PlanningstagesatHealthand SocialServices

Constructionphase

Finishedproduct

Futurexeriscapingprojectsites

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