Why Is Native Landscaping Important to You and the Semiarid West

1. 1
Why is Native Landscaping Important
to You and the Semiarid West?
Are you interested
in creating an attractive
environmentally friendly
landscape while reducing
your water and
maintenance requirements?
Do you want a beautiful
yard, garden, school,
park, or parking area?
Try a Xeriscape™ with
native plants!
In this photo: Urban Xeriscape with native
plants in summer foliage: staghorn sumac,
horizontal and common juniper, western
mountain ash, aspen, skunkbush sumac,
rose, shrubby cinquefoil, ponderosa pine.
Whether you’re a newcomer to the northern Great Plains and Rocky Table of Contents
Mountains or you just want fresh, new landscaping ideas, this booklet will
Why is Native Landscaping Important to You and the Semiarid West? .. 1
help you select and grow native plants that are naturally adapted and will Planning ............................................................................ 2
thrive for years under our extreme environmental conditions. The goal of Design .............................................................................. 3
this booklet is to provide an overview of native landscaping principles and Site Preparation .................................................................. 4
practices. It integrates the principles of several conservation initiatives Choosing the Right Grasses and Wildflowers ................................ 5
such as reduced water, energy, and chemical usage; wildlife habitat Choosing the Right Trees and Shrubs ......................................... 6
enhancement; and invasive weed management. Native plant, in the Grasses ............................................................................. 7
context of this booklet, means native to the United States. Wildflowers ....................................................................... 9
Trees and Shrubs ................................................................ 10
Water Conservation ............................................................. 12
What is Xeriscape™? Maintenance ..................................................................... 13
Xeriscape (pronounced zeer-i-scape) is derived from the Greek word, Plant Protection ................................................................. 14
xeros, meaning “dry.” It’s the wise use of water through water-efficient “To Do” List ...................................................................... 15
landscaping. The word Xeriscape conjures up visions of a dry, About this Publication ............................................... Back Cover
desert-like landscape when,
in fact, its focus is how to land-
scape appropriately in areas with
seasonal water supply shortages. In many parts of the West,
Denver Water holds the trademark where rainfall is scarce,
on the term and has developed landscaping accounts for half
7 Xeriscape Principles.
of all residential water
7 Principles of Xeriscape consumption. Outdoor
1. Plan and Design Comprehensively landscaping offers the single
2. Improve Soil with Amendments biggest opportunity for water
3. Reduce Lawn Areas savings to a typical American
4. Use Appropriate Plants and family. That's because most
Group According to Water/
Environmental Needs people pour a lot more water
5. Irrigate Efficiently on their greenery than it
6. Use Mulches Narrow grass strips (left) too often result in watering pavement as well really needs. In fact, it is
7. Maintain Your Landscape as grass. A water-efficient, low maintenance alternative treatment estimated that 85 percent of
(right) features juniper and western mountain ash. all landscape problems are
Comparisons of traditional caused by over watering
landscapes and Xeriscapes
Xeriscape and Native Plant Benefits (A Consumers Guide to Water
have shown that up to 50 Economic
Conservation©, 1993 American
percent savings can be Water Works Association).
• Lower Water and Maintenance Costs
achieved in water usage • Enhanced Real Estate Values
alone. Other studies indicate • Increased Survivability of Plantings
potential savings of nearly • Edible and/or
Decorative Products
30 percent in maintenance
and labor, 61 percent in Golden currant: berries used for jelly making.
fertilizers, 44 percent in fuel Environmental
and 22 percent in herbicides • Improved Water and Soil Conservation
and pesticides (At Home with • Reduced Use of Petroleum Products
Xeriscape ©, Xeriscape • Improved Air Quality/Carbon
Colorado, Inc). Sequestration
• Enhanced Urban Wildlife Habitat
Lupine. • Reduced Water Contamination
Cottontail rabbit.
Aesthetic
• Increased Year-Round Visual Interest
• Increased Urban Wildlife Viewing
• Encouraged Link with Nature
• Enhanced Quality of Life
Yucca: this evergreen plant brings
a bold, dramatic touch to a dry
landscape. American Indians used
the leaves to make baskets and the
Big bluestem: fall color. roots to produce soap.
Creating Native Landscapes in the Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains Why is Native Landscaping Important to You and the Semiarid West?
1