subject: Incorporating Water Efficiency With Landscape Design [print this page] You want the landscape design for your outdoor area to be appealing to the eye. You also want it to be functional for your family. Keeping water efficiency in mind can help to keep the costs low for your utilities bill and can also help the environment. Enjoyment of the attractive landscape matters, as does the conservation of one of our most precious resources.
To incorporate the efficiency of water with your outdoor landscape design, select native plants that require little watering. Once the plants have become established, they will need very little water beyond what they receive from the rainfall in your area. Plants that are native to your area of residence adapt to the climate and local soil very well. These kinds of plants rarely need the application of fertilizer. Another advantage of native plants is that they tend to be more resistant to diseases and various pests, in comparison to other species.
When considering the type of landscape design that you wish to have, it is a wise idea to group your plants together according to the requirements they have for water. By grouping the plants into hydrozones, the amount of water used is reduced because you cater to the specific needs of each group. As an example, the areas for shrubs and the areas for turf should be separate because their watering requirements are not the same.
If you wish to design a new landscape or you want to rethink the one you presently have, you must consider the climate of your region. The landscape design needs to work with the climate and temperature of the part of the country you live in.
A water-efficient landscape is one where the site conditions are kept in mind. To plant appropriately, you must understand that the type of soil in your backyard is not necessarily the same in all places. The same can be said for the level of exposure to the sun, rain, snow, and wind. Moisture levels and evaporation rates vary as well. If you take a walk around your site and examine the ground closely, you will see this for yourself. When selecting suitable plants for your yard, it is important that you are mindful of these elements. You want to go with plants that will thrive in the circumstances and that will be able to adequately cope with the elements.
Turf grass that is used in your landscape design needs to be placed strategically. When landscaping, it is turf grass that receives the highest percentage of water from irrigation. Bear this in mind when placing it. The varieties of turf grass that are the most common often need more water than do other kinds of landscape plants.
