Xeriscaping: The Latest Gardening Fad
Xeriscaping (pronounced "zer-i-scap-ing") has taken over the gardening world by storm. This technique of gardening transforms your garden from a water-gulping-time-demanding hobby to a no-hassel-rain-watered landscape.
This form of gardening has been making it's way to urban areas as it eliminates the need for supplementary watering and attention. Xeriscaping is becoming increasingly popular in areas where realible and plentiful supplies of water are lacking and temperatures are simply too hot to accomidate continuous soils rich in water content.
So, what kind of plants would you see in a xeriscape?
The gardens are easily recognized for their diverse arrangement of natural and native plants. The plants chosen to thrive within these environments must be tolerant of heat and limited weather, often these plants will be the ones native to the area. However, these gardens can and often do see non-native plants that are the best suited to the harsh environments.
So, next time you're out buying big, beautiful flowers take a look at their water requirements. On the flower identification tag, there will be 1-5 drops; 1 drop demonstrates low water requirements and 5 drops suggests a high demand for water.
If Xeroscaping isn't something you're totally into (trust me, neither am I) just be aware of the water consumption that each plant requires. Every little bit of water saved will make a huge difference!
Check out the included picture for a better idea of what I mean by the 'drops' on flower pots. Use this as a reference next time you're buying some new additions to the garden.
Make Water Work has a full selection of fun coloured flowers, shrubs and plants that are perfect for transitioning your garden to a zeriscape.
Happy gardening, friends.
Sources:
Makewaterwork.ca
http://www.dooryardgardens.com/images/xeriscaping4.jpg