Low-Maintenance Grass and Garden Alternatives, Plus Garden Tips

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If you live in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming, to name a few states, you probably live in an arid or semiarid climate. Arid and semiarid climates exhibit three main traits: low precipitation rates, high evaporation rates, and drastic temperature changes. (Typically, arid climates receive fewer than 14 inches of rain per year, whereas semiarid climates receive fewer than 28 inches of rain, though far more commonly, their annual precipitation measures at fewer than 20 inches.)

The lack of moisture in these regions can make supporting plant life particularly difficult, and can turn your gardening and landscaping efforts into a struggle.

However, even if you live on the opposite side of the coast, it isn’t usually easy to grow a green lawn or lush garden. Rain is unpredictable, the cost of water adds up and ultimately, it takes time and effort.

Below are low maintenance, high reward—for your enjoyment and pollinators—garden and lawn ideas and tips for all climates.

Ornamental Gardens

Xeriscaping is a landscaping plan used especially in arid and semiarid regions to promote water conservation, but can be used universally. It includes, among other tactics, decreasing lawn space, using mulch, and choosing plants that thrive in your area, as well as grouping them appropriately.

Decrease Lawn Space

A typical suburban lawns can require more than 20,000 gallons of water a year to stay green. So, one way to cut back on your outdoor water usage is to simply decrease the amount of grass in your yard. A deck, patio, or gravel bed can reduce turf space, as well as increase usable space by allowing you to create an area where you can cook, eat and entertain outdoors—which you will likely have more time to enjoy, considering that you’ll be saving time not mowing the lawn, fertilizing, or weed-whacking.

If you are reluctant to forgo grass, there are still ways you can reduce your outdoor water usage. One of the easiest ways is to raise the lawn-mower blades on your mower. Taller blades of grass provide shade for each other and help the soil retain water. You also want to make sure to aerate your soil to reduce runoff and help water reach plants’ roots.

You can also opt for grasses that thrive in dry environments, such as Bermuda grass, Zoysia grass, and Bahia grass.

Bermuda grass thrives in all-day sun and can tolerate heavy use, so if your yard receives a lot of sun and serves as a playground for children or pets, Bermuda grass might be a wise choice. That said, it may require mowing more than once a week.
If you live in a climate that is both dry and hot, Zoysia grass may be a good option; however, it does not tolerate much use, and is slow to recover from damage or stress.
Two of the greatest benefits of the third option, Bahia grass, are its ability to grow in poor soil conditions and its durability through heavy use.

You can also decrease the amount of grass space by incorporating drought-tolerant, local wildflowers or ground-covering plants, which not only will add a whimsical pop of color and beauty, but also:

Support local insects and animals
Save you money (since you won’t have to water or fertilize)
Save you time (since you won’t have to mow or upkeep much)
Provide an opportunity to cut your own flowers to display indoors

Not to mention, if you decide to start incorporating herbs into your landscaping, you’ll be able to reap the benefits in the kitchen!

Use Mulch

Although you will still need to water any bushes, shrubs, or flowers you plant, using mulch helps discourage the growth of weeds that would steal water from your plants. Even as little as two to four inches of mulch will minimize evaporation, retain moisture in the soil, and keep roots cool, so you probably won’t need to water plants in mulch beds as frequently as plants without mulch. And as a bonus, mulch helps to reduce lawn space.

If you’re looking for a cost-free approach, using fallen leaves to protect the soil will help cut down on the amount of water needed while providing nutrients for your plants and shelter or food for our insect friends.

Choose the Right Plants

Choosing plants that both conserve water and are tolerate-drought can also help you save water—while maintaining curb appeal. Water-conserving plants retain the moisture they absorb longer than other plants, and drought-tolerant plants can flourish for long periods of time without any water at all.

Most succulents exhibit both traits, and can be an excellent choice for garden accents. Cacti are also a good option, especially if your climate is both dry and hot. Even in the heat of the summer, these hardy plants require water only once or twice a month.

But desert plants aren’t the only ones that require little water. In fact, you’d be surprised by the amount of low maintenance, drought-tolerant plants that would thrive where you live. Just remember to check your hardiness zone if you’re hoping the plant will come back year after year, and know which plants are native to where you live to support local wildlife as best as possible.

Once you have decided which plants to include in your garden, you want to make sure you place them properly, grouping together plants that share the same moisture, soil, and sunlight needs. Place drought-tolerant plants separate from those that require more water.

In addition, space plants so that once mature, they will be close together. Doing so provides shade for the soil, which helps it retain moisture and keeps the roots cool.

Edible Gardens

One of the best ways to enjoy fresh, organic produce is to grow it right in your own backyard, but making sure your fruits and vegetables stay hydrated can be challenging, especially if you want to conserve water or if you live in an arid or semiarid climate. (Not to mention, the more space you create for your fruits or vegetables, the less grass-space you will have.) A few tactics to conserve water in your edible garden are to select plants with low water needs, plan with grouping and design in mind, add compost to your soil, and time your irrigation wisely.

Select the Right Plants

In a dry climate, you might want to avoid plants with high water requirements— such as broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower—or plant fewer of them. Plants like tomatoes, squash, and melon typically do well in dry climates. As a rule of thumb, plants with deeper root systems are better suited to drier climates than plants with shallower root systems. Knowing plants’ root depths can help you determine which ones might be best suited for your area.

Plan Efficient Grouping and Design

When you plan your fruit or vegetable garden, pay close attention to the spacing recommendations for each plant. Plants require room for their roots to spread, so place them no closer together than their instructions suggest. But don’t place them too far apart, or they won’t be able to provide shade for each other or for the soil and you’ll need to water a larger area.

Although many of us are accustomed to the sight of the row upon row of corn, potatoes, or soy beans in farmers’ fields, in your own backyard garden, planting in blocks, not rows, can help you conserve water and time, as watering a block no more than three feet wide is more efficient than spreading water over a long row. In addition, blocks provide more shade and allow for less evaporation.

Incorporate Compost

A five-percent increase in organic matter in your garden’s soil can improve its ability to retain water fourfold. Because compost helps your soil remain moist longer, you can water your plants less frequently. You can sprinkle a thin layer of compost over your garden soil, a process known as top-dressing or side-dressing, which will reduce evaporation and seal in moisture.

Know When to Water

Part of saving water and maximizing the efficiency of its use involves knowing the best times to water, both in terms of the time of day and your plants’ growth cycles. Avoid watering your garden between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., as watering in the heat of the day can result in more water usage due to evaporation and wind.

Also avoid watering your plants at the same rate, without regard for where they are in their life cycle. Instead, consider the development and circumstance of each plant to help save water. Plants need the most water before they reach maturity, directly after a transplant, and when producing fruit.

Create a Happy Place Anywhere, for Everyone

No matter where you live, you can enjoy a lavish garden or lush lawn, if that is what you want. And, you can do so without having to spend a chunk of your income on your water bill or time tending to everything. With thoughtful planning, you can have a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy, even in the heat, that also helps the bees and butterflies.

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