Using Xeriscaping to Save Time and Water

August 8

While having a full fledged garden is rewarding and enjoyable, lots of people simply don’t have the time that is required to maintain it. Whether you have too much going on at work or too many kids to take care of, you should never try to operate a garden if you don’t think you can handle it – xeriscaping may be the answer! Using Xeriscaping to Save Time and WaterFor those people who are just too busy for a normal garden, I would suggest a somewhat recent method of gardening known as Xeriscaping. This minimal yet stylish theory first emerged across San Diego County when water levels were at an all time low. It is a great method of having a great looking yard or garden, without having to maintain it or water it very often at all.

What is Xeriscaping?

To some, the name Xeriscaping conjures the image of a yard that consists of a giant rock bed. However, this is known as “zero scaping”, and it is a considerably different concept. It focuses on reducing your yard to nothing that requires any maintenance whatsoever. Unfortunately, this is usually just rocks. But this shouldn’t be your goal. While keeping maintenance at a minimum, it is still possibly to retain a nice looking yard that won’t attract the negative attention of everyone who passes by. This might sound like it would be hard to implement without making your yard into a hideous mess, but this is not so at all. The theory basically involves choosing plants which are low maintenance to begin with, then putting them each in environments that are ideal. It is usually applied by figuring out what side of the house to place it on to get the best amount of shade, and figuring out how to group it with plants with similar water needs.

How to Get Started with Xeriscaping

To get started in your Xeriscaping renovation, you first need to pick out all the plants you will be using. They should for the most part require a low amount of water. This doesn’t mean you can only grow cactuses in your yard. Just cut back on the really thirsty plants that you have to water every day to keep alive. You’ll want to stick with local plants for the most part, and don’t go with anything too exotic as these generally require larger amounts of water. San Diego XeriscapeThe second most important principle of xeriscaping is placing the plants in ideal areas. If you place them all together with plants that require essentially the same amount of water, then you will end up saving lots of water. Also place the plants in areas where they will be protected from wind or excessive sun, depending on the needs of the plants. Xeriscaping is almost the same thing as microclimating, just with more of a focus on adaptation to harsh conditions rather than avoiding them. So if it sounds good to you and you’re looking to save time and water by renovating your garden, Pacific Dreamscapes may be able to help you with your landscape project! If you are thinking of xeriscaping your property and getting a consultation on a Landscape Design in San Diego county, contact Pacific Dreamscapes at 858-583-4105 or email estimates@pacficdreamscapes.com

No Water Landscaping Ideas, Custom Walls

June 21

No Water Landscaping Ideas with Custom Walls can be a great way to liven up your property without grass or other water intensive materials. A custom wall can add elegance and sophistication and create an atmosphere for your backyard that invites leisure and relaxation. [metaslider id=10311] This No Water Landscaping Idea consisted of installing approximately 1,400 square feet of Country Manor wall block in Poway, San Diego CA in the summer of 2013. We buy our materials from RCP Block and Brick located in Santee, San Diego CA. The color we used was a mixture of charcoal brown and brown stone. The first process was to excavate the soil where the wall foundation would be placed. We removed approximately 12″ of soil in order to install 6″ of compacted 3/4″ crushed gravel, and to bury one 6″ block. In places where the wall would be used as a retaining wall against a bank, there needs to be 12″ of compacted crushed gravel installed behind the wall to allow for proper drainage. We used a weed fabric to separate the gravel from the wall blocks as well as a Geogrid reinforcement to hold the walls in place. The hollow parts of the Country Manor wall block are filled with 3/4″ crushed gravel, and the wall units are held in place using fiberglass pins. Once the Country Manor wall is completed the final process is the install the wall seating caps. This is a fairly easy process for straight walls. Unfortunately for this project most of the walls were curved so the installation of the wall seating caps was a longer process. Each cap must be cut using a masonry saw too give the wall seating cap a smooth curve. Each wall seating cap is attached to the wall blocks using a masonry adhesive. If you want to add a hint of grass, you can also consider adding in artificial turf to the project, giving you the look of lush grass, but still keeping with a no water landscaping idea. For more No Water Landscaping Ideas or expert advice on an Outdoor Kitchen Design in San Diego county, contact Pacific Dreamscapes at 858-583-4105 or email estimates@pacficdreamscapes.com