Most of San Diego County is a desert by the ocean. Xeriscape or Desert Landscaping here is more than just rocks and cactus. There is a common misconception regarding designing and installing desert landscaping. Usually, our first thought of a desert landscape is one of rocks, cactus and tumble weeds. A beautiful desert landscape is entirely possible using California native plants that naturally thrive in dryer areas. There are several options to choose from, including green and leafy plant material that have an array of color when in bloom.
California's limited supply of water, subject to ever increasing demands, is just one resource saved by desert landscaping. This results in immediate cost reduction through lower water bills. Desert landscaping can also reduce the amount of plant trimmings that are disposed of, in turn helping your community save resources. A reduction in plant trimmings can reduce the amount of labor needed to maintain a given landscape. A landscape can be designed from the beginning to reduce the amount of resources needed to maintain it and the amount of waste it produces. By designing a landscape that matches the region's soil type, temperature ranges and lighting, selecting compatible plants, and installing efficient irrigation systems, a balance can be achieved that fits both the aesthetic needs of the customer and the resource availability of San Diego County. In the past few years, desert landscaping has evolved significantly. More and more information is available and simple processes have been developed in order to transform that beautiful planter or front area into a pristine landscape that will save you monthly on the water bill. Following is the introduction of Xeriscape, and the easy step-by-step process to attain the resources and knowledge to move in the direction of water conservation.
Xeriscape comes from the Greek word Xeros, meaning dry. Xeriscape essentially means the conserving of water through creative landscaping with simple principles that can be integrated into any landscape. The seven steps of Xeriscape are planning and design, soil analysis, appropriate plant selection, practical turf areas, efficient irrigation, use of mulches and appropriate maintenance. Desert landscaping is essentially the answer to maintaining a beautiful landscape as well as saving valuable water. Xeriscape creates a rewarding challenge for most professional designers, yet is a simple system to learn about and implement.