A Complete Guide to a Drought Tolerant Landscaping
Emily Greenfield
November 14, 2022
A Complete Guide to a Drought Tolerant Landscaping
Landscaping can be pretty challenging if you live in an area with a dry and humid climate. Few plants can survive a hot environment without rain, leaving you with fewer design options. Fortunately, you can use the concept of drought-tolerant landscaping to solve this problem.
This post will discuss how you can create a garden using drought-tolerant plants while using clever landscaping elements.
What Does Drought Tolerant Landscaping Mean?
Drought Tolerant Landscaping is a practice that uses plants and flowers that can adapt to dry conditions as important garden pieces. It uses plants such as geraniums, aloe, and artichokes that won’t wither and can survive with just a tiny amount of water.
Professional landscapers often use this method when installing a garden in places with little to no rainfall. If you live in an area that’s near or within a desert, such as Nevada, you will want to use drought-tolerant gardening.
Inexpensive Drought Tolerant Landscaping
The best thing about Drought Tolerant Landscaping is that it’s an affordable solution to creating a magnificent garden. Instead of a lush lawn, you fill your front yard with gravel, river stones, permeable paving, and low-maintenance plants that don’t require irrigation.
Furthermore, you can even use Drought Resistant plants, which are a step up from the Drought Tolerant plants. Plants like Japropha can resist the hot climate by storing water in their trunks. Using drought tolerant and drought resistant plants for landscaping is called Xeriscaping.
Below are some ways you can use inexpensive drought tolerant landscaping techniques on your lawn:
- Reduce Your Lawn
A healthy lawn requires constant watering. However, if you only have minimal water at your disposal, then it’s best to reduce your lawn. The most direct way to shrink your lawn is to cut the ground into square sections using a shovel.
- Consider Artificial Grass
If you still want some greenery on your lawn, consider installing artificial grass or synthetic turf. They are made from a combination of nylon and other plastic materials that mimics the characteristics of grass. You don’t have to water them, but they also don’t have that sharp scent of natural grass.
- Make the Most of Mulch
Mulch is often used to cover the surface of the soil. They are made from dead plant parts such as tree bark, leaves, compost, and grass clippings. They can improve soil quality and suppress weeds. Moreover, you can use them to keep the sun’s rays from drying out the ground, saving water.
Front Yard Drought Tolerant Landscaping Ideas
Turning your lawn into a drought-tolerant garden requires creativity and careful planning. Below are some things you should consider:
- Use Decorative Hardscape Elements
Plants, flowers, and grass aren’t the only things that make your garden attractive. Other hardscape materials, such as gravel, rocks, and even wood, can also elevate the overall aesthetics of your lawn.
- Group Plants with Similar Water Needs
Arrange your plants according to the amount of water they need and group together those that require more water. Doing so will make it easier to water these plants and prevent them from withering.
- Water Wisely
When you use native plants with drought-tolerant abilities, make sure not to overwater them. Some plants experience something akin to “drowning” when they are watered excessively. Hence, research when is the best time to water these plants and in what interval to get the best results.
- Pick Porous Materials
For your lawn’s driveway choose porous materials where water can seep into the soil and rocks below. This method will make it easier to get some needed moisture to the soil underneath. Some porous pavers include gravel, concrete blocks, and asphalt.
Choose Ideal Drought-Resistant Plants for Your Drought Tolerant Landscape
When choosing the best drought tolerant plants go for species that require minimal water, especially if you are into conserving water. Here is a short list of native plants that don’t need drip irrigation.
- Coneflower
- Agastache
- Salvia
- Lavender
- Drought-Tolerant Shrubs
Tips for Simple Drought Tolerant Landscaping
If you want to create simple drought-tolerant landscaping in your front yard, it’s best to consult a professional to create a landscape design with a drought-tolerant garden. Furthermore, the garden should be able to adapt to dry conditions and the lack of irrigation systems.
- How to Help Your Plants Survive with Minimal Water
Front yard drought-tolerant landscaping is predicated on the fact that you only need to use minimal water. Below are some things you can do to reduce the amount of water to maintain the plants and flowers in your yard.
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- Apply Mulch
Covering your lawn with mulch protects the soil below from harsh sun rays. Furthermore, it keeps the ground’s moisture and provides nourishment to the plants once the materials decompose.
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- Use Organic Matter
Gardening materials that are made of organic matter absorb less heat than inorganic ones like plastic and steel. Using organic matter will lower the garden’s temperature and lower the risk of your plants withering because of the heat.
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- Avoid Fertilizer
Never use fertilizer on a hot day because it can harden the soil and decrease its fertility. Wait for the colder months of the year to apply them instead.
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- Plant Small Specimens Early
The best time to plant your drought-tolerant plants is in the morning when it’s relatively colder. This method will ensure they won’t dry out as easily during the hotter hours of the day.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best Las Vegas artificial grass company, then you are in the right place. Our company specializes in Artificial Grass Installation in Las Vegas and nearby areas. We also share drought-tolerant landscaping ideas on a regular basis, so you can set up an awesome garden.
