Enjoy this article that was featured in the October 2009 issue of Phoenix magazine

Photo courtesy Blooming Desert Artificial grass (above) is a water-saving substitute for real grass.

Drought-tolerant plants can create a lush, colorful yard while reducing your water bill.

While summer technically came to an end September 22, a look at our weather-beaten foliage confirms what the mercury screams at us daily: It’s still very hot. But with cooler weather on the way, now is the perfect time to consider xeriscaping your yard.

This doesn’t mean you can plop a cactus onto your landscape and declare yourself water-wise. Nor does it require that you rip up every square foot of your green, grassy lawn.

But meeting somewhere in the middle may help you conserve water amid still-severe drought conditions. In fact, implementing xeriscaping principles can still foster a lush, flowering landscape that may be more aesthetically pleasing than your water-thirsty rosebushes and Bermuda grass.  

Xeriscape: What It Is
The term xeriscape combines “xeros,” the Greek word for dry, with landscape. “It’s basically...finding appropriate plants that need less water in order to thrive in the landscape,” says Kirti Mathura, curator of shrubs at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Equally important are water-wise planning and design, efficient irrigation, limited lawn areas and proper maintenance.

How much does all this really help? According to the University of Arizona’s Cooperative Extension, about half of a typical family’s water use is spent watering outdoor landscaping. According to the City of Mesa’s Development and Sustainability Department, one acre of landscaping grass uses 1.5 million gallons of water annually, while one acre of xeriscape uses 642,000 gallons. That means a quarter-acre lot would use about 214,500 fewer gallons of water annually.

Photo courtesy Artistic Landscape Design Create your own backyard garden oasis by selecting plants that are drought tolerant.

Planning and Design
Start by asking basic questions about how you intend to use your space. Do you have kids? Pets? Do you like to entertain? Do you want to attract wildlife?

“Answers to these questions will set the parameters for your landscaping,” says John Shipp, president of Artistic Landscape Design in Phoenix. “For example, a lot of desert plants have thorns. You’re going to lose a lot of soccer balls or basketballs if you plant them where the kids are playing.”

Once you’ve defined your spaces and high-traffic areas, place a higher concentration of plants in those areas, suggests Joshua Stubbs, vice president of design and sales at Tempe-based Blooming Desert. “Where will you be spending the most time? In your backyard, you’ll be around the patio or pool, so plant out your xeriscape in a manner that’s attractive in those areas primarily,” Stubbs says.

Such an approach fits with the “zoning” principle inherent to good xeriscape design in which a lush “oasis zone” is closer to the house – both for aesthetic appeal and a cooling effect from water – while transition and arid planting zones are planted farther from the home. Placing plants near mounded contours or rock channels can also take maximum advantage of water runoff, especially if you create shallow basins around your plants to collect and hold water.

Another tenet of xeriscape design is well-planned, functional placement of turf.

“Xeriscape doesn’t require getting rid of all your grass. You can put in grass and incorporate low water-use parameters,”  says Shipp, who recommends dwarf tif, midiron and BOB sods as lower water-use choices. Steer clear of thirsty Bermuda grass.

Plant Selection
The right mix of ground covers, succulents and bushy flowering plants can create a visually stunning mix of color and texture. Arizona yellow bells, orange jubilee, lantana and bougainvillea bloom practically year-round. Succulents and cactus add native flair while ground covers such as myoporum or yellow dot can soften landscaping rock. Mesquite and palo verde trees do well in the desert, requiring little water and providing shade canopies when mature.

Don’t go plant shopping without consulting a landscaping professional or doing your homework, though. “The plant that looks cute in the nursery can grow four, five, six times the size you’re seeing,” Shipp says. Plus, Mathura adds, overplanting will cause plants to fight with each other for water.

For tips, tap the following resources:
• When visiting local nurseries, ask to speak with someone experienced, specifically in low water-use plants.
• Visit municipal xeriscape demonstration gardens in Scottsdale (5401 N. Hayden Road), Chandler (410 N. Arrowhead Drive) and Glendale (5959 W. Brown St.) to gather ideas from mature xeriscapes.
• Talk to horticulture staff members at Desert Botanical Garden or Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
• Check the meeting/presentation schedules and online resources of the Arizona Native Plant Society (aznps.com) or the Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society (centralarizonacactus.org). Also, visit cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden for a wealth of desert gardening information from the University of Arizona Maricopa County Cooperative Extension service.
• Call the Desert Botanical Garden’s plant hotline, Monday through Friday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at 480-941-1225, or e-mail planthotline@dbg.org.

Photo courtesy Blooming Desert Use native plants like the agave (foreground) instead of exotic plants.

Maintenance
Experts recommend drip or low-volume spray emitters, which get water to the base of the plant without runoff or water loss from evaporation. Experts also suggest you:
• Keep trees trimmed. “During monsoon season, people wonder why their beautiful $1,000 mesquite trees are falling over. If they are not trimmed properly, they get top heavy,” Shipp says.
• Apply mulch, such as compost or manure, under and around plants to help the soil retain moisture and keep cool.
• Control weeds, which compete with your plants for water.


Conversion Projects
Converting to xeriscape may save money long-term, but it can cost you up front. A typical new landscape costs in the $2 per square foot range at Blooming Desert, while a renovation usually adds about $1 per square foot to the price, Stubbs says. Luckily, Valley cities including Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Glendale and Scottsdale offer turf-to-xeriscape conversion rebates. Mesa residents can receive a rebate of up to $500. Call your local water department for details.

You could also take baby steps, such as xeriscaping the never-used front lawn but retaining your backyard. “There’s always something you can do to adjust to our desert conditions,” Mathura says.