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 Xer-i-scap-ing
-- The horticultural art
of landscaping with water conservation as a major objective.
In recent years we have seen the effects
of water rationing un our community. Stressed turf with yellow patches
or more dirt than grass showing and flowers with wilt or stunted growth
clearly are constant reminders of the seriousness of water levels in our
state.
This comes at a time when many
developers are offering new home buyers a front yard of blue grass sod
in hopes that that addition to the home will make for an instantaneously
greener neighborhood. While newly installed turf complements a new
home, massive amounts of water (especially in poor, sandy soil) will be
needed to ensure that it becomes established. This could become a fact
of life indefinitely. But lets look at an alternative approach.
Colorado Springs with its semi-arid,
windy climate; and soils range from extremely porous to heavy clay
depending on the area of town. Successful xeriscapes incorporate a fair
amount of organic matter and should be a prerequisite to any plant
installation.
For many people, drought tolerant
plants conjure up images of cactus and yucca. These plants are extreme
examples. People are surprised to learn that there is a huge array of
plants that qualify as both semi-drought and drought tolerant for our
area. Roughly one-third of all our perennials are fairly drought
tolerant. Shrubs such as lilacs, Potentilla, Golden Nine Bark,
Serviceberry, Moonlight Broom, Sumac and Blue Mist Spirea have low water
needs. Examples of trees for the low water zone include Golden Rain
Tree, Japanese Tree Lilac, Hackberry, Green Ash, Catalpa and Amur
Maple.
The reality of a well thought out
xeriscape design will incorporate some turf grass, trees, shrubs and
flowering plants grouped together with similar watering requirements.
The installation of a pond can also be
considered a wonderful xeriscape feature because water is re-circulated
and a pond actually uses less water than the same square area of blue
grass turf. Ponds built into an original new home design, or used to
cut back on existing grass are becoming very popular.
There is a huge array of
plants offered that qualify as both semi- and drought tolerant successes
for Colorado Springs. Both the Colorado Springs Utilities Department
and Colorado State University Extension provide educational material in
print and on their Internet sites. There is also a demonstration garden
maintained by the Colorado Springs Utilities. Also the xeriscape
symbol is available to nurseries for plant labeling. All of these
efforts are aimed at instilling awareness in water conservation and
reduction in utility costs.
To see a Xeriscape plan
in action, visit the demonstration garden on Mesa Road maintained by the
Colorado Springs Utilities Department. Also, the Colorado State
University Extension provides educational material on their internet
site and in print at their office on South Union Street.
Phelan Gardens
enthusiastically endorses the concepts and implementation of xersicaping
along the front range.
By considering xeriscape
in just a portion of your yard, you will be doing a lot to conserve our
most precious resource—WATER!
For any questions you have on this
article, or any topic of concern, email us—or better yet, come by and
talk to one of our professional staff members.
Remember, Phelan
Gardens is open year-round!
For additional information, check the
following links:
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