Landscaping and Gardening.info

Today we continue with our sections from the EPA booklet about water-efficient landscaping. This was eye opening in an unexpected way that actually had to do with copyright matters as you can read below. As for your landscaping, keep these principles in mind to help conserve water.

Water-Efficient Landscaping

Many terms and schools of thought have been used to describe approaches to water-efficient landscaping. Some examples include “water-wise,” “water-smart,” “low-water,” and “natural landscaping.” While each of these terms varies in philosophy and approach, they are all based on the same principles and are commonly used interchangeably. One of the first conceptual approaches developed to formalize these
principles is known as “X… landscaping.”

(Note: Apparently the word that starts with ‘X’ is actually a copyrighted and trademarked term, with a logo no less. It was coined and copyrighted by the Denver Water Department in 1981 to help make water conserving landscaping an easily recognized concept. The word is a combinationof the Greek word “xeros,” which means “dry,”and “landscape” without the “land” part. Because of this, we will simply use the X to stand for the term so we don’t get into copyright trouble.)

X… landscaping is defined as “quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment.” The seven principles upon which X… landscaping is based are:

• Proper planning and design
• Soil analysis and improvement
• Appropriate plant selection
• Practical turf areas
• Efficient irrigation
• Use of mulches
• Appropriate maintenance.

The eight fundamentals of water-wise landscaping illustrate the similarities in the underlaying concepts and principles of X… landscaping and other water-efficient approaches.

• Group plants according to their water needs.
• Use native and low-water-use plants.
• Limit turf areas to those needed for practical uses.
• Use efficient irrigation systems.
• Schedule irrigation wisely.
• Make sure soil is healthy.
• Remember to mulch.
• Provide regular maintenance.

In short, plan and maintain your landscapewith these principles of water efficiency in mind and it will continue to conserve water and be attractive.

We realize that most people probably consider such water conservation matters in their landscaping and gardening as something only westerners should be concerned about. But I have lived in Florida and gone through a drought which dried up bayous and burned up the land, literally, from the fires that were part of the drought. Water conservation is something all of us should consider in our landscaping, but, yes, especially out west with our large getting-out-of-control cities.