Waterwise Gardening
XERISCAPE
water-smart or water-wise,
environmentally kind gardening
 seven main components

Amy Jo Detweiler,
OSU-Department of Horticulture
XERISCAPE™ (ZIR-I-SCAPE)
Xericdry
-scape
landscape
dryscape
MISCONCEPTIONS
all natives
few plant choices
all low water use plants
entire yard xeriscaped

1
WHY XERISCAPE?
water conservation
 easier maintenance
 better plant health
 saves money
 Reduce runoff

Planning and Design
7
S
T
E
P
S
Soil Improvement
Irrigation
Plant Selection
Using Turf
Using Mulch
Maintenance and review
1. PLANNING AND DESIGN

assess your site – taking note of
structures, topography, and
microclimates
1. PLANNING & DESIGN
collect ideas
 consider your
budget
 do it yourself or
hire a
landscape
professional

1. PLANNING & DESIGN
different hydrozones or
adaptive irrigation
 Xeriscape 30-70% of the
landscape
 install in phases

2
DESIGN FOR WATER
CONSERVATION
Traditional Landscape
Collect rainwater
 Stormwater management
 Permeable pavers
 bioswales
 Berms

2. SOIL
Determine what type of
soil is native to your area.
 How would you amend
clay type soils and why?
 How would you amend
sandy type soils and why?
2. SOIL


Clay soil holds too
much moisture



Sandy soils drain too quickly


2. SOIL IMPROVEMENT

Add amendments to lighten soil (coconut coir)
Add 1/3 amendment to 2/3 native soil
Add amendments (compost)
Add 1/3 amendment to 2/3 native soil
MYCHORRIZAE
the goal is to create
an environment in
which roots are
allowed to absorb
water, nutrients, and
air to sustain
healthy plants
3
3. IRRIGATION
manual vs. automatic
 how much water should you
be using?

3. EFFICIENT IRRIGATION
well planned system –
automatic more efficient if set
up and managed right
 reduces water use up to 40%

4
4 HYDROZONES
(IRRIGATION ZONES)
High
Moderate
uses
supplemental
water
Low
Very low
Hydrozone or Irrigation zone
Approximate water use in inches
per week delivered within each
zone
Examples of plant material found
within each zone indicative of water
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
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION
(ET RATE)

Soil water loss due to the
combination of evaporation
from the soil and transpiration
from the plant
5
SMART CONTROLLERS
HOW SMART CONTROLLERS WORK…
SMART WATER APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY
(SWAT) PERFORMANCE REPORT:
Look for controllers that passed with
100% irrigation efficiency and 0%
irrigation excess
 Irrigation Association
 http://www.irrigation.org/weatherbased_controllers/

WATERING PLANTS
WATERING PLANTS
water deeply less often
new plants once a week
once established, as
needed
Soak and cycle

(SHRUBS, TREES, PERENNIALS)
water deeply (8-16”)
and less often
 new plants once a
week
 once established, as
needed

6
IRRIGATION TEST
dig down 6-8”
 ball up soil

If soil is saturated wait
to irrigate.
If soil is slightly moist
and stays in a ball
continue to water that
day.
Drip line
4. PLANT SELECTION

group plants with similar
water, soil, and exposure
needs
4. PLANT SELECTION
site
 mature size
 function

adaptability
 non-invasive
 quality

7
KNOW YOUR GARDENING
KNOW YOUR GARDENING
ENVIRONMENT SPECIFICATIONS
ENVIRONMENT SPECIFICATIONS
USDA Hardiness
Zone
 For use as a
guide only
 Hardiness Zone is
not the same as
climate zone

PLANT FUNCTIONS
shade
fruit
flower
fragrance

fall color
texture
wind breaks


Microclimates


Wind, shade, frost pockets,
topography, drainage
Frost date

Spring and Fall
Annual precipitation
 Soil type

HOW MUCH TIME, ENERGY, AND
RESOURCES ARE YOU WILLING TO EXPEND
TO KEEP ANY ONE PLANT HEALTHY?
8
PLANT QUALITY
overall appearance, check for
insects, disease, stress
 branch patterns
5. USING TURF
place where functional
 traditional: 90% turf
 xeriscapes: 60% turf or less
 choose alternative
plants or low water
use turf

Gallons per Square Foot per Year

20
18
18
16
14
12
10
10
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Bluegrass
Tall Fescue
Wheat
Grasses
Moderate
Water
Plantings
Low water
plantings
Very Low
water
plantings
Values taken from Denver Water Xeriscape™ Demonstration Garden
TURF TYPES
perennial rye grass
 Fine fescues
 turf type tall fescues
 Kentucky bluegrass mixes

9
perennial rye grass
fescue
Kentucky bluegrass
TURFGRASS
MANAGEMENT
mowing & fertilizing
 watering
 dethatching
 aerating

MOWING HEIGHT
Grass
Type
Mowing
Height
Cultural
Fertilization
Watering during
the summer
Kentucky
Bluegrass
1.5 – 2.5”
Full sun
Medium to high nitrogen
requirements
Water every 2-3
day
Turf type tall
fescue
1.0 – 2.5”
Sun or
shade
Medium
Drought tolerant
water every 5-10
days
Perennial
Ryegrass
1.5 – 2.5”
Sun
Medium to high nitrogen
requirements
Water every 2-3
days
Fine Fescue
1.5 – 2.5”
shady
Medium to high nitrogen
requirements
Water every 2-3
days
10
RIDING MOWER
WATERING TURF
1-2x per week during summer
 early morning/day
 apply 1”- 1.5” per week
 Cycle and soak

Leaf tissue
(minor)
Roots
(major)
Stems
(major)
Thatch components
Mechanical Thatch Control
•Set flail at or above ground level.
•Make one to three passes.
•Remove debris
•Scalp down remaining grass.
•Fertilize with nitrogen @
1-2 lb N/1000
11
AERATING
AERATING
12
6. MULCH
is anything that covers the soil,
including ground cover plants
 organic & inorganic types

6. USING MULCH
2-5” coverage
 properly apply – replenish as
necessary
 Reduce weeds/evaporation
 Prevents erosion

13
7. MAINTENANCE
planting
pruning
weeding

7. MAINTENANCE
Fertilization
 Integrated pest management
 Winter watering
 Reapply mulch as needed

WHY TRY XERISCAPING?
water conservation
 reduce runoff/pollution
 easier maintenance
 better plant health
 saves money

Traditional Landscape
Blended Grass Mix or
Native Grasses
14
HOW TO RETROFIT
reduce turf areas
 adjust sprinkler
system or irrigation
practices
 Add a smart controller
 Add low water use
plants and
hardscaping

RESOURCES
EXAMPLES OF
XERISCAPES
15
16
17
18
19
PLANT SELECTIONS
FOR
XERISCAPING
20
Woolly Thyme
Woolly Thyme
Woolly Thyme
Woolly Thyme
Yellow Ice Plant
Yellow Ice Plant
21
Yellow Ice Plant
Yellow Ice Plant
Purple Ice Plant
Sedum species
Sedum
Sedum
22
Mount
Atlas
Daisy
Mount Atlas Daisy
Mount Atlas Daisy
Kinnickinnick
Kinnickinnick
Kinnickinnick
23
Poppy Mallow
Poppy Mallow
Poppy Mallow
Partridge Feather
Partridge Feather
Partridge Feather
24
Pineleaf Penstemon
Pineleaf Penstemon
Pineleaf Penstemon
ARTEMESIA ‘SEA FOAM’
ARTEMESIA ‘SEA FOAM’
Blanket Flower ‘Goblin’
25
Blanket Flower ‘Goblin’
Blanket Flower
Western
Columbine
Lavender
Western
Columbine
Lavender
26
Lavender
Agastache
New Mexico
Hummingbird
Mint
Echinacea
Coneflower
Agastache
New Mexico Hummingbird Mint
Clematis
‘Nelly Moser’
Echinacea ‘ Sundown’
27
Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’
Clematis ‘Jackmanii’
Gold Flame Honeysuckle
Gold Flame Honeysuckle
Karl Foerster Feather Reed
Grass
Blue Avena Grass
28
Karl Foerster Feather Reed
Grass
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Mount Airy Fothergilla
Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Mount Airy Fothergilla
Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum
29
Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Rugosa Rose
Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Rugosa Rose
Rugosa Rose
30
Wood’s Rose
Black Chokeberry
Black Chokeberry
Black Chokeberry
Black Chokeberry
Black Chokeberry
31
Buckbrush
Buckbrush
Common Lilac
Lilac
Lilac
Wayfaring Tree Viburnum
32
Wayfaring Tree Viburnum
Wayfaring Tree Viburnum
Bristlecone
Pine
Wayfaring Tree Viburnum
Colorado Blue
Spruce
Bristlecone Pine
33
Colorado Blue
Spruce
Colorado Blue Spruce
Ponderosa Pine
Ponderosa Pine
Ponderosa
Pine
Serviceberry
34
Serviceberry
Serviceberry
Serviceberry
Rust Oleum
Ornamental Pear
Ornamental Pear
35
Ornamental Pear
Ornamental Pear
Green Ash
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Green Ash
Green Ash
36
White Ash
White Ash
SMART CONTROLLERS THAT PASSED
TESTING WITH 100% IRRIGATION
EFFICIENCY AND 0% IRRIGATION EXCESS
Irritrol Smart
Dial
 Toro IntelliSense
 WeatherTRAK
 Rainbird ET
Manager

AMY JO DETWEILER
541-548-6088
[email protected]
Calsense ET
2000e
 ET Water Hermit
Crab
 Rain Master
RME Eagle
 Water Optimizer

37