E-NEWS SIGNUP
Join our online community! Sign up to receive green tips, news about your favorite charities, quiz contests & more, delivered every other week.DONATE ONLINE
Your gift can help protect our air, water, land and wildlife, and our health. We're a BBB Wise Giving Alliance Accredited Charity and you can review our financial profile on Guidestar.
DONATE NOW »WORKPLACE GIVING
You can give to all of EarthShare's charities through one simple payroll contribution!
- Employers: learn how easy we can make it
- Employees: start a campaign at your work
The X - Files
Xeriscaping is a way to garden using a minimum of water and energy. The following techniques are a must in dry-weather climes, but also provide useful guidelines for environmentally conscious gardeners everywhere.
- Group plants by their water needs. When possible, put high-need plants in naturally wetter areas of your property.
- Test your soil. Add organic matter when necessary - maybe from your own compost pile - to increase your soil's water-holding capacity.
- Mulch. Cover plant beds with composted leaves or grass to help retain moisture.
- Plant native species. Plants that have evolved in your area's climate are more naturally adapted to its water conditions.
The City of Boulder Colorado offers these tips, as well as answers to misconceptions about Xeriscaping.
- Seek out turf alternatives like patios, decks, and mulches.
- Locate grass or turf only were it provides functional use.
- Add compost and use native plants.
- Water less often but thoroughly to encourage deep root growth.
- Terrace slopes to prevent water runoff.
More Resources:
- Colorado Waterwise Council, Xeriscaping Resources
- Green Builder, Xeriscaping Sourcebook
- Xeriscape Council of New Mexico
- FloridaPlants.com, Xeriscaping
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00e554936bef8834010534b2a41b970c
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference The X - Files:
GET INVOLVED
Tell us more to get started!
Comments