Xeriscaping is a landscaping method that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation. It involves using drought-tolerant plants, proper soil preparation including mulch, and efficient irrigation. There are seven principles of xeriscaping: planning, soil preparation, appropriate plant selection for water needs, limiting turf areas, using efficient irrigation, applying mulch, and providing appropriate maintenance. Xeriscaping can save water, reduce maintenance needs, and provide wildlife habitat using native plants suited to the local climate.

1. XERISCAPING

2. It is the Denver Water summary which is made by using the,
“Seven Water Saving Basic Principles” in the year 1981. The main
focus of this summary is to make the quality landscapes by using
less quantity of water.
What is Xeriscaping?
"xeri" derived from the Greek word "xeros" for dry; and "scape",
meaning a kind of view or scene. While xeriscape translates to
mean "dry scene," in practice xeriscaping means simply
landscaping with slow-growing, drought tolerant plants to conserve
water and reduce yard trimmings.
Xeriscaping is a method of garden design which involves choosing
plants that can be maintained with little water, says- N. Chandra
Mohan Reddy.
DEFINITION:
Xeriscape landscapes are defined as “quality landscaping that
conserves water and protects the environment.”
XERISCAPING

3. • It can be applied to any landscape design, from formal to
informal.
• Although it may take two to three years to establish, a xeric
landscape aims to reduce the amount of water being used.
• There are seven water-saving principles of xeriscaping.
XERISCAPING
Planning a design.
Soil Preparation.
Zoning of Plants.
Turf Alternatives.
Efficient Irrigation.
Mulching.
Appropriate Maintenance.

4. Planning a design (1st Step)
With respect to the buildings, driveways and existing vegetation planning a
design of landscape. Note the orientation to the sun.
Consider:
•High- or low- maintenance landscape.
•Type of plants want and any additional hardscape
materials such as decks, patios and walkways.
•Identify problems and potentials.
•List needs and wants to be incorporated into the plan.
•A good plan divides the yard into water usage zones: high (regular watering),
moderate (occasional watering) and low (natural rainfall).
•It also incorporates shade and appropriate plant selection.
•Laid a piece of tracing paper over the sketch and note where plants will be
located and the placement of water and shade zones.

5. Soil analysis (2nd Step)
•Soil will retain more moisture if properly prepared.
•In high and moderate water zones, adding organic
matter, compost or leaves can help soil retain
moisture.
•In low water zones, tilling the soil will open it up
to moisture and air and help roots develop better.
•Composting Building and maintaining a compost
heap will replenish your soil’s nutrients and
maintain moisture in the garden.
•Compost may be bought or made.
•Put the right type of materials in the heap.
They include:
1. Carbon-rich “brown” materials: leaves, straw, dead flowers
and shredded newspaper.
2. Nitrogen-rich “green” materials: grass clippings, plant-based
kitchen waste (vegetable peelings and fruit rinds, but no meat scraps),
barnyard animal manure.
3. Garden soil: A heaping shovelful.
Find a container or site that's at least 3 feet long by 3 feet wide.

6. •Every couple of weeks, use a shovel to mix the rotted material to the center of
the bin or pile. Keep the compost material moist, not wet. Air should circulate
through the pile, or compost material can turn to slime and be useless in the
garden.
•Good compost is brown/black and crumbly with a sweet, woodsy smell.

7. Appropriate plant selection (3rd Step)
•Consider the design of the planting site when choosing plants.
•Group plants with similar soil, light and watering requirements.
•Many varieties of plants will fit in a xeric landscape.
Some steps for choosing plants :
•Mature size and form: Consider the plant’s scale as it grows; control
overgrown plants that will compete with other plants for nutrients and
moisture.
•Plant health: Look for well-developed roots throughout the root ball and
for an abundance of small white roots (absorbing roots) on the outside of
the root ball.
•Color : Add color to the landscape with flowering trees, shrubs and
perennials. Use ground covers with variegated leaves instead of annuals,
which take a lot of water.

8. Planting tips for trees and shrubs:
•Do not dig deeper than height of root ball
•Root ball Dig planting hole two to three times as wide as root ball.

9. Turf planning (4 Step)
•Turf provides a play area for the yard.
(grass and the surface layer of earth
held together by its roots)
•It also controls erosion and absorbs heat,
cooling the environment around it.
•When planning the turf area:
•Designate a rectangular area large
enough for practical use but with a small
perimeter to conserve water.
•Limit watering to high- visibility,
high-impact areas.
•Use drought-tolerant covers or mulch
instead of turf on slopes or areas that
are hard to move.
•Never water turf daily unless you are
trying to establish it. Daily watering will
encourage shallow root growth and reduce
the turf’s drought tolerance.
•Divide watering sessions into 1-inch applications once or twice a week to
maintain health.
Shallow roots and
deeper drought
resistant roots

10. Efficient Irrigation (5th Step)
•Xeric landscapes need good irrigation in
the first few years to establish the root
systems of plants.
•Water wisely Plants wilt when they
need watering.
•If wilting continues into the evening,
water the next morning.
•Some plants wilt during the heat of day
and recover later.
•Once established, most plants, trees and shrubs need little watering.
•This usually takes about three years from the initial planting time.
•To water, moisten the soil 10 to 12 inches deep for shrubs and 6 to 8 inches
deep for annuals, perennials and ground covers.
•As a guide, 1 inch of water wets the soil to a depth of 6 inches.
•A small shovel may be used as a probe to determine how much water is
saturating the ground.
•Sprinklers are better for lawns and Drip irrigation (plastic tubing placed below
or above the ground surface) is best for watering plants. With both systems,
watch for runoff, and avoid watering streets and sidewalks.

11. Mulching (6th step)
•Mulch provides a cover for soil, keeping it moist and preventing evaporation.
• Mulch also controls weed growth and erosion.
• It keeps plant roots cool. It prevents soil from forming a crust. It minimizes
water evaporation. It reduces weed growth.

12. Types of mulches and how they are used:
TYPE ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE
Pine straw. Excellent for water
conservation.
Flammable when dry
Decomposes quickly.
Pine bark. Conserves moisture well.
Use the mini nuggets.
None.
Leaves. Readily available.
Hold moisture well.
Not as neat in appearance
as bark.
Grass clippings. None. Use for compost.
Gravel. Long lasting. Absorbs too much heat; can
damage plants.
Newspaper. Layer two sheets under
organic mulch. Helps
conserve moisture.
Acts as a moisture barrier if
placed too thick.
Fabric. Keeps moisture nutrients in,
weeds out.
Hard to install.
Plastic. None. Blocks oxygen, water and
nutrients.

13. Maintenance (7th Step)
•All landscapes require some maintenance,
but proper planning and design make it more
efficient.
Things to do:
• Control weeds. They take water
intended for plants.
• Reduce fertilizer applications.
The more a plant grows, the more
water it needs.
• Remove poorly growing plants that
consume time and water.
• Avoid heavy pruning. Plants that are left
alone require less water to maintain
themselves.

14. •Water the lawn deeply and infrequently.
•If water only a little bit each day, the deeper roots will die from lack
of moisture. Lawn grass should be watered to a depth of 4-6 inches.
•No water again until the grass shows signs of stress – a change in color or
footprints that can be seen after you walk over the grass.
•Use a screwdriver to check how deeply watered.
•Push the screwdriver into the soil. It will move easily through damp soil and
with more difficulty through dry soil.
•Water the garden plants deeply and infrequently.
•Trees, shrubs, and flowers should be watered to a depth of 8-12 inches then
not watered again until they begin to show water stress (slight wilting, change
in color) or until the upper soil is dry.
•If soil is dry, squeeze a small handful.
•If it stays in a ball it is still moist; if it breaks apart, it is dry.

15. Why Xeriscape???
Xeriscape Benefits
Saves Water. For most of North America, over 50% of residential water used is
applied to landscape and lawns. Xeriscape can reduce landscape water use by
50 - 75%.
Less Maintenance. Aside from occasional pruning and weeding, maintenance
is minimal. Watering requirements are low, and can be met with simple
irrigation systems.
No Fertilizers or Pesticides. Using plants native to area will eliminate the
need for chemical supplements. Sufficient nutrients are provided by healthy
organic soil.
Improves Property Value. A good Xeriscape can raise property values which
more than offset the cost of installation. Protect landscaping investment by
drought-proofing it.
Pollution Free. Fossil fuel consumption from gas mowers is minimized or
eliminated with minimal turf areas. Small turf areas can be maintained with a
reel mower.
Provides Wildlife Habitat. Use of native plants, shrubs and trees offer a
familiar and varied habitat for local wildlife.

16. Indian Rosewood Tree, Dalbergia sissoo June 11, 2006.
Glendale Arizona Xeriscape Demonstration Library.

17. Plant in xeriscape gardens. Planted in
sweeps or displayed in large
containers, bamboo muhly gives an
Asian look to gardens without "real"
bamboo.
Perfect for ornamental garden. This xeriscape
garden may not have a large array of plants.
“is xeriscape garden may not have a large array of
plants, but the plants that are in place are so
striking that the space feels full. Setting each
specimen in its own space rather than crowding
them.

18. Few drought tolerant
plants and lots of stone.
Xeriscaping doesn't have to be plain or boring.
This beautiful outdoor room features areas for
quiet contemplation amidst natural elements
such as stones, wood materials and plants.
Xeriscape grasses with lots of
texture and color
more cement pads with space in
between.

19. This is perfect for the front yard with a winding pathway in the front.
principles
of xeriscape gardening
makes sense, especially in
the south, southwest and
other areas typically hit by
droughts. Use of natural
plants and stones adds
beautiful shades of gray
and green to the garden
without costly watering.Xeriscape landscaping was
selected to complement the homes
minimalist design”

20. Installed several large, mulched plant beds
with drought-tolerant plants such as amur
maple, flowering crab, potentilla, blue fescue,
blue oat grass, rocky mountain juniper, dwarf
spruce, snow in summer and artemisia. The
soil was improved before planting and under
the mulch is a low-volume drip irrigation
system.
Meandering gravel path, stone steps and a
perennial garden under the mature trees.
This is how visitors approach the front entry
which is much more welcoming.
An isolated bed of shade-loving plants
separates a lower patio from the upper
one. Hosta, Maiden Pinks, Lady Fern and
Coralbells thrive in the same bed.

21. Flowers.
Indian Rosewood.
Leaves.
Indian Rosewood.
Bark.
Indian Rosewood.
Seed Pods.
Indian Rosewood.
Yucca: this evergreen plant
brings a bold, dramatic touch to
a dry landscape. Indians used
the leaves to make baskets and
the roots to produce soap.

22. Case Study-
-There is one reputed Institute in India named
Tata Institute of Social Sciences(TISS) which is
one of the best example of Xeriscaping.
-Bordharan would be one of the closer and nearer
example of Xeriscaping.
- Kalpataru which is in Mumbai is another
wonderful example of Xeriscaping.

24. THANK YOU !!!

25. BIOSWALE
Bioswales are landscape elements designed to
remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water. They consist of
a swaleddrainage course with gently sloped sides (less than six
percent) and filled with vegetation and compost The water's flow
path, along with the wide and shallow ditch, is designed to
maximize the time water spends in the swale, which aids the
trapping of pollutants and silt. Depending upon the geometry of
land available, a bioswale may have a meandering or almost
straight channel alignment. Biological factors also contribute to the
breakdown of certain pollutants