"Take time to understand the
site and lighting," said Lefstead.
Plants placed outside their
natural "comfort zone" will
struggle and need more water
to look healthy.
in the garden," said Maffei. "A water-efficient landscape is designed under the premise that there will never be ample moisture,
as in it is a xeric garden, or it is impractical or forbidden to use
supplemental irrigation."
There is a misconception that drought-tolerant landscapes are
laden with rocks and cacti, limiting a homeowner or commercial
property owner's options for incorporating diversity. "That is
not necessarily true, unless living in very, very arid areas," said
Lefstead.
It is also important not to confuse a drought-tolerant landscape
with a xeric garden (also known as xeriscaping). Although the
practice of design in either case is similar, there are key differences
where the designer seeks to create a product that meets criteria for
usability, durability, aesthetics and enjoyment.
"A drought is an occasional phenomenon, so plants are selected
for a drought-tolerant landscape that essentially 'hedges your bets'
Drought-tolerant landscapes require planning
"Plant choice determines water use," said Lefstead. Native, regionally specific plants require less water to survive in their natural
environment than plants forced into geographic areas for which
they were not originally designed.
Choose the right plant for the right place. Sun-loving plants
should be planted in the sun, and shade-loving plants should be
planted in the shade. "Take time to understand the site and lighting," said Lefstead. Plants placed outside their natural "comfort
zone" will struggle and need more water to look healthy.
"Group plants together based on the amount of water needed,"
Lefstead said. Hydrozoning includes grouping plants with similar
water needs in the same beds to more efficiently provide water
based on plant needs. In areas where plants are not grouped, too
much water is applied to ensure the plants needing more water get
enough and vice versa, she added.
A drought-tolerant landscape design also strives to minimize
steep slopes. In situations where steep slopes are unavoidable,
plants with deeper root zones, native ground covers and shrubs
provide additional stabilization to avoid runoff and erosion.
Right image: This yard was transformed from an unremarkable, waterwasting lawn into a lush, Florida-friendly landscape that saves its owner
time, money and water, while also contributing less stormwater runoff to
the neighborhood. All plant material in this yard is drought-tolerant and appropriate for Florida's climate. Planting beds are mulched 3 inches deep with
Melaeuca to conserve water at the plant's roots. The irrigation system includes a rain sensor and high-efficiency pop-up sprinklers, drip, and microjets to irrigate directly at the root zone of the plant. Photo by South Florida
Water Management Districting and runoff. Photo by Tallgrass Restoration,
LLC
www.landscapeirrigation.com
Landscape and Irrigation 15
