The Surprising Benefit of This Landscaping Technique: Xeriscaping

A unique way to landscape your yard (or any outdoor space) is xeriscaping. Don’t let the futuristic-feeling word scare you–it’s just landscaping, but with materials that require little to no irrigation. Xeriscaping can help set your space apart while also being remarkably low-maintenance as well as cost-effective. That’s three for three on benefits! Say goodbye to labor-intensive winterization, and say hello to a new world of outdoor design possibilities.

 

Any outdoor area can have grass with many plants grouped, making uniqueness challenging to achieve with traditional landscaping. Xeriscaping allows you to make a more personal, sometimes funky, and off-beat statement. It also takes a small, restricted space and gives the illusion of a larger, laid-out landscape. 

 

Step up your xeriscaping game with garden steps. Done correctly, they don’t feel arbitrary or random. Don’t just drop a decorative bridge in the middle of open space with no context–use them to transition from one thematic area or group of plants to another. Fully fleshed-out, they can stand on their own as out as transitional display areas.

 

But what to do with the areas at the bottom or top of the steps? Depending on how you xeriscape these areas, you can create various aesthetics, both classic and contemporary. Use them to display items that you want to pay special attention to. Use them as seating areas, or use them as an opportunity to create a “lookout” point to a particular area, as a space to reflect.

Cutting borders into your space to designate intentional areas can be challenging in smaller spaces, but the desired effect can be achieved with a simple row of the same type of plant or a path of stepping stones. Try placing a row of one plant next to a row of another to suggest visual separation. Create a thin, controlled line of gravel or pebbles to ut lines through space. These hard borders don’t necessarily feel severe and can even provide welcome contrast when set against softer-looking shrubs and foliage.

 

LOW MAINTENANCE SOLUTIONS 

Is anything more low-maintenance than a garden filled with pebbles instead of grass? This can give the illusion of a larger space and opens you up to a world of options regarding color, texture, size, and shape. You can get creative with the types of rocks or pebbles you feature, and you can create the perfect look and feel for your unique space.

 

Another low-maintenance xeriscaping element? Xerophytes. Don’t worry; we’re just talking cacti or other plants that don’t require a lot of water. Place them next to an angled pathway for a transitional area—line them next to cobblestones or flagstones, or intersperse them throughout limestone or gravel.

 

Don’t feel bound to a specific material. Just because you enter the garden on a cobblestone pathway doesn’t mean that every path moving forward has to be cobblestone! The consistent visual, especially on a path, could feel monotonous, making it harder to delineate different areas. 

 

PLANT SELECTION 

Of course, what remains as crucial in xeriscaping as it is in landscaping is the care that one must take when selecting what plants to include. Of course, the biggest draw of xeriscaping is its low-maintenance nature. Hence, planting a shrub that cannot survive a harsh winter or sweltering summer. Cacti and succulents are the optimal choices. They are sturdy but don’t have to be boring-looking: in addition to that are types of cacti and succulents with blooming elements, but most cannot withstand weather fluctuation. Instead of relying on color for variety, try intentionally creating a palette with a visually-appealing range of textures and tones. Don’t be afraid to juxtapose textures: line up intricate-looking plants next to flat stones, or place smooth succulents on top of rough gravel.

 

That’s not to say bold color statements aren’t possible in xeriscaping–quite the opposite. Succulents come in a range of beautiful blues and greens while blooming xerophytes can feature bright, striking reds and pinks. Not to mention the limitless range of color available for elements like gravel and sculptural elements. 

 

The best part about xeriscaping is that it’s easier to build upwards to create dynamic displays. Tiered vertical focal points make the most of a smaller space and give the eye somewhere to land. Place a small bench in front of a multi-tiered display at the top of some stairs, and you have an intentional area with a natural flow.

 

Create an overall mood or concept for your space, then define any distinct smaller areas within it. Choose your plants carefully, and then set them off with stones, sculptures, etc. Delineate the areas with transitional pathways that are a moment in and of themselves. Build upward. There you have it! And remember, the low-maintenance aspect of xeriscaping means you can take risks while the stakes are low.

 

If you have any questions or would like to know more about landscaping solutions, you can visit www.drcrenoscapes.com.