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Waterwise Gardening: Creating Your Own Xeriscape - Oregon State University
- 1. Waterwise Gardening: Creating Your Own Xeriscape XERISCAPE water-smart or water-wise, environmentally kind g y gardening g seven main components Amy Jo Detweiler, OSU-Department of Horticulture MISCONCEPTIONS WHY XERISCAPE? all natives water conservation few plant choices easier maintenance better plant health all low water use plants saves money entire yard xeriscaped Reduce runoff 1
- 2. 7 STEPS 1. PLANNING AND DESIGN planning & efficient assess your site – taking note of design irrigation structures, topography, and plant mulching microclimates selection maintenance soils turf 1. PLANNING & DESIGN collect ideas consider your budget do it yourself or hire a landscape professional 1. PLANNING & DESIGN 4 HYDROZONES (IRRIGATION ZONES) different hydrozones or High adaptive irrigation uses Xeriscape 30-70% of the Moderate M d t supplemental l t l water landscape Low install in phases Very low 2
- 3. Hydrozone or Irrigationzone Approximate water use in inches Examples of plant material found per week delivered within each within each zone indicative of water zone use high 1.5 to 2.0” turfgrass, willow, birches moderate .75 – 1.0” crabapple, maples, oaks low .5” or lower perennials, shrubs very low natural precipitation native plants 2. PLANT SELECTION group plants with similar water, soil water soil, and exposure needs 2. PLANT SELECTION site adaptability mature size non-invasive function quality 3
- 4. KNOW YOUR GARDENING KNOW YOUR GARDENING ENVIRONMENT SPECIFICATIONS ENVIRONMENT SPECIFICATIONS USDA Hardiness Zone Microclimates Wind, shade, frost pockets, For use as a topography, drainage guide only Frost date Spring and Fall Hardiness Zone is not the same as Annual precipitation Soil type climate zone PLANT FUNCTIONS shade fall color fruit texture flower wind breaks fragrance HOW MUCH TIME, ENERGY, AND RESOURCES ARE YOU WILLING TO EXPEND TO KEEP ANY PLANT QUALITY ONE PLANT HEALTHY? overall appearance, check for insects, disease, stress branch patterns 4
- 5. 3. SOIL 3. SOIL Determine what type of soil is native to your area. Clay soil holds too much How would you amend y moisture clay type soils and why? Add amendments to lighten soil (coconut coir) Add 1/3 amendment to 2/3 native soil How would you amend sandy type soils and why? Sandy soils drain too quickly Add amendments (compost) Add 1/3 amendment to 2/3 native soil 3. SOIL IMPROVEMENT 4. EFFICIENT IRRIGATION the goal is to create an environment in well planned system – which roots are automatic more efficient if set allowed to absorb up and managed right water, nutrients, and reduces water use up to 40% air to sustain healthy plants 5
- 6. EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (ET RATE) Soil water loss due to the combination of evaporation from the soil and transpiration from the plant 6
- 7. SMART CONTROLLERS HOWSMART CONTROLLERS WORK… SMART CONTROLLERS THAT PASSED TESTING WITH 100% IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY AND 0% IRRIGATION EXCESS Irritrol Smart Dial Toro Intelli-Sense WeatherTRAK Rainbird ET Manager WATERING PLANTS SMART WATER APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY (SWAT) PERFORMANCE REPORT: (SHRUBS, TREES, PERENNIALS) water deeply (8-16”) Irrigation Association I i i A i i and l d less often ft www.irrigation.org new plants once a week once established, as needed 7
- 8. Gallons per SquareFoot per Year 20 18 18 16 14 12 10 10 8 7 r 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Drip line Bluegrass Tall Fescue Wheat Grasses Moderate Water Low water plantings Very Low water Plantings plantings Values taken from Denver Water Xeriscape™ Demonstration Garden IRRIGATION TEST 5. MULCH dig down 6-8” is anything that covers the soil, ball up soil including ground cover plants organic & inorganic types If soil is saturated wait to irrigate. If soil is slightly moist and stays in a ball continue to water that day. 5. USING MULCH 5. USING MULCH 2-5” coverage mulched beds properly apply – replenish as reduce weeds/evaporation / p necessary prevent erosion Too much mulch (5”+) could lead to root rot or make it difficult for water to get to the roots 8
- 9. 6. USING TURF place where functional traditional: 90% turf xeriscapes: 60% turf or less choose alternative plants or low water use turf 9
- 10. Alternatives to traditional turf Turf-type tall fescue Kentucky bluegrass WATERING TURF 7. MAINTENANCE 1-2x per week during summer pruning early morning/day weeding apply 1”- 1.5” per week Fertilization Integrated pest management Winter watering 7. MAINTENANCE WHY TRY WATERWISE LANDSCAPING? planting water conservation pruning reduce runoff/pollution weeding easier maintenance fertilization better plant health saves money 10
- 11. HOW TO RETROFIT HOW TO RETROFIT reduce turf areas adjust sprinkler reduce turf areas system or irrigation adjust sprinkler system or practices ti irrigation practices Add a smart controller Add low water use add low water use plants plants and to your landscape hardscaping RESOURCES http://www.spokane- county.wsu.edu/spokane/eas tside/Waterwise_Landscapin tside/Waterwise Landscapin g/waterwise_landscaping.ht http://extension.oregonstate. m edu/deschutes/sites/default /files/xeri-all_1.pdf http://extension.oregonstate. edu/catalog/pdf/EC/EC1546 .pdf 11
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- 14. PLANT SELECTIONS FOR XERISCAPING Woolly Thyme Woolly Thyme Yellow Ice Plant Yellow Ice Plant 14
- 15. Yellow Ice Plant Yellow Ice Plant Mount Atlas Daisy Purple Ice Plant Mount Atlas Daisy Mount Atlas Daisy 15
- 16. Partridge Feather Partridge Feather Partridge Feather Pineleaf Penstemon Pineleaf Penstemon Pineleaf Penstemon 16
- 17. Pincushion Flower Pincushion Flower ‘ Butterfly Blue’ Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ Pincushion Flower ‘Pink Mist’ Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ 17
- 18. Blue Avena Grass Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum 18
- 19. Serviceberry Serviceberry Serviceberry Serviceberry Traditional Landscape Blended Grass Mix or Native Grasses 19
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