Xeriscaping: How to Garden in the Desert With (Almost) No Water

In Phoenix, nearly 50% of home water consumption is used outdoors for irrigation. That’s an insane quantity of water used just to irrigate our landscape! We all know that we are in the midst of a global climate crisis and as desert dwellers, we bear an even heavier burden to lower our water consumption. 

Enter “xeriscaping,” the landscape principle of utilizing native plants to irrigate as little as possible. It comes from the root word “xeros” meaning dry. The term originates from the Denver Water Board in the 1980s amidst a severe drought. They encouraged citizens to converse potable water by reducing lawn irrigations. 

There are seven core principles to xeriscaping, each of which I will review in-depth. 

1. Practice good planning and design

   • As with all things, observe health and safety codes and laws first. Observe proper guidelines for planting and gardening per the FDA, CDC, and your local government. Your design should consider power lines, underground pipes, stormwater management, and hardscape elements.

   • Designate usage zones in your yard. Where does it make sense to have turf? It is possible to plant turf sustainably in the desert if it is thoughtful.

   • Divide your yard into zones by their function and needs. If you have children, you may choose to designate a shady area for turf and another sunnier spot for a vegetable garden. Alternatively, if you live alone, you might allot a shaded zone a patio, and a sunlit one a flower bed.

   • Beautify last. In xeriscaping, beauty is not an afterthought though it must work in conjunction with sustainable design. After sustainability and safety are ensured, beauty can be established. Xeriscaped designs are not any less beautiful than traditional ones; they set a higher standard with lower water intake and breathtaking beauty.

2. Select plants wisely

   • Here, xeriscaping entails planting mostly native and desert-adapted species. Xeriscaping is not exclusive to desert climates. In other climates, select what is native and adapted to your environment. Those are the plants that will survive with the least amending and maintenance.

   • Group plants according to water usage. Grouping your plants allows them to be watered consistently, lowering water usage overall.

3. Use turf selectively

   • As mentioned above on usage zones, turf does not need to be eliminated in xeriscaping. Lawns can be sustainable in the desert. In the heat of the Phoenix summer, a lawn can be 10-20 degrees cooler than the surrounding microclimate. And the alternatives, such as cement or asphalt, can actually increase the average microclimate in the summer. They provide a needed respite in summer and are a refined addition to any home.

   • Due to their heavier water intake, consider where and when you’ll use it most. It’s possible to cultivate turf in certain seasons and not others when you won’t use it. Or, as is the case with usage zones, only plant it in certain parts of your yard.

4. Design water-efficient irrigation

   • Use the most efficient irrigation systems for what you are designing and planting. Annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs benefit most from a drip system. Drip systems are measured in gallons per hour and run for several hours a day. Turf does best with an overhead sprinkler system. Sprinklers come in several different models depending on the size of your area. Fixed sprinklers are best for smaller areas though impact/rotating are better for larger areas. They are measured in gallons per minute.

   • Find a water guidance chart with general recommendations about the gallons of water needed for your plants. Local charts are the best with information about the number of days between irrigations.

5. Consider the soil

   • As mentioned before, xeriscaping heavily emphasizes planting plants native and adapted to your region. In Phoenix, the soil is quite alkaline; many non-adapted plants do not survive without amendment. The pH inhibits the absorption of certain nutrients such as zinc and iron and it is common for non-natives to suffer deficiencies. Such deficiencies can be treated by lowering the pH of the soil or adding the required nutrients. However, neither solution is long-term and they often return in later lifecycles.

   • Desert adapted and native species rarely if ever, suffer from similar deficiencies. Species such as Oleander, Lantana, Sisoo, Palo Verde, Olive, Eucalyptus, and more do so well in our soils they frequently require pruning to control their growth. Stick with the adapted and natives.

6. Use mulch

   • Mulch is a huge water saver! It can reduce water loss up to 90%! You can use organic materials, such as wood chips, or inorganic materials like rocks, gravel, and rubber. While inorganic materials last longer and do not decompose, many reflect significantly more heat in the summer.

7. Perform maintenance

   • Non-native species, even the desert-adapted, will require fertilizer every once in a while. Trim and prune after every season and renew mulch as necessary. Follow best management practices for pests and diseases per your local laws and local garden center’s suggestions. Do not use pesticides or herbicides unless necessary and clean irrigation systems regularly.

Xeriscaping has saved a lot of water and will continue to do so as long as we embrace and spread its principles. It is standard practice for me to observe xeriscaping principles in all designs I create now.

What do you think? Will you implement xeriscaping in your yard and designs?