Save water with xeriscaping

Wincing at the sight of your withering pansies during times of scarce water-supply? Or perhaps, you love pretty flowering plants, but can’t spare the time or energy for raising them? Don’t despair. Take to xeriscaping! Desert landscaping (‘xeri’ –dry; landscaping) gives you a garden that doesn’t guzzle gallons of water or demand hours of labour! 

Cacti come in a wide variety of vines, bushes and flowering plants. Barrel cactus, pincushion cactus, chollas and prickly pear are some. Pick aloes and yuccas and dwarf trees like acacia and palms, besides shrubs and bushes like oleander. Don’t relish growing thorny cactuses all over the garden? Then, reserve just a patch for them. Go for diversity in the rest of the garden. Plus, if water-saving’s your primary concern rather than a strictly authentic desert look, include other drought-resistant and water-economising plants too like zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, geraniums, periwinkle, lantana and ferns. 

But, proper planning is an essential prerequisite. First, assess the area for its soil-type, drainage, rocks and stones and slopes. The type of plants you can choose depends on all these factors. Plan specific locations for the different varieties you’re planting. Leave adequate space between two plants. Group plants with similar water-requirements together. Low-lying drainage areas suit moderate-water-use plants.

Dry, sunny areas are for low-water-use plants. As uniformity isn’t appealing, throw in some short and tubby plants in between tall ones without affecting water-usage homogeneity. Ensure there’s enough space for the shrubs and trees to grow to their full height. Double-check if proper sunlight and shade are available at each planting-spot. Avoid thorny plants near paths/walkways.

The moisture stored within desert plants help them survive through the dry months. But, you can prune water-consumption further.

Help your desert plants to absorb the water quickly before it flows away or evaporates.

Simply dig out a concave area with a mud-rim in your garden where drain-pipes disgorge rain-water falling on your roof. Else, dig a shallow pit below window-eaves. The rain-drops dripping down from the eaves collect in your pit. Populate that place with plants. 

 A soil-mix of potting soil, sharp sand and pumice provides excellent drainage that’s vital for growing cacti/succulents. For, their roots decay with excess water in the soil. Since the lawn is the biggest water-consumer, limit its area or dispense with it altogether. Else, settle for the less-demanding ground covers or ornamental grass. Placing mulch on the soil helps retain moisture and prevents weed-growth.

Prepare it from decaying leaves, wood chips, dry grass, etc. Inorganic mulches include plastic film, gravel and woven fabrics. During winter, mulch insulates root-systems. Watering deeply and infrequently develops deep roots. Avoid watering during the day; it increases water-loss through evaporation. 

Add organic matter annually. Though most drought-resistant plants naturally repel pests/insects, check regularly for these. Arrange rocks of different sizes and colours with potted cacti/succulents in between and around them to enhance the desert look.

Propagate cacti/succulents through cuttings, plantlets/bulbils on flowering stalks or seeds.