Xeriscaping, the Future of Yard Landscaping?
Xeriscaping’s a weird word, but the meaning is actually very practical, and not weird at all –especially for homeowners and developers! What exactly is it, and why is it possibly the future of yard landscaping? Read on to find out:
Xeriscaping is a growing-in-popularity yard landscaping style that consists of plants and vegetation that grow well within their local climate. This drastically cuts down on water costs and consumption in comparison to lawns, as the vegetation is acclimated to the natural weather. Xeriscaping’s goal is to create a drought resistant and temperature resilient yard. This practice has taken off in many southern states such as Texas and Arizona, where homeowners are becoming more water conscientious. However, xeriscaping is quickly spreading to other states too, as a modern alternative to lawn prevalent yards.
There are a plethora of benefits to xeriscaping other than reduced water consumption. With the addition of native plants over grass, you will find an increase in local pollinators visiting your yard, like butterflies, hummingbirds, and honeybees. Xeriscaped yards are the perfect respite for them. These yards are also incredibly eco-friendly, requiring less fertilizer and treatments that can adversely affect wildlife and other plants. Because these yards are made of acclimated plants, and other non-care intensive landscaping options, many homeowners find that the required maintenance time drops by 50% or more.
Xeriscaping your yard doesn’t mean you have to tear out every scrap of lawn there is. You can do both, and still reap many of the benefits. Many xeriscape yards have a portion dedicated to a kids play area or relaxation spot, where they’ve kept a small portion of their lawn for practical purposes. The rest is made up of a combination of your choosing:
In an HOA, this type of change to your homes appearance most likely requires approval by the designated Architectural Review Committee, unless specifically approved in the CC&Rs. Before you sign with a contractor, buy any plants or make plans beyond your initial yard design, we recommend that you reach out and find out exactly what’s possible in your community. We do however encourage you to do your research and come up with some awesome creative ideas for your yard this summer!
Xeriscaping is a growing-in-popularity yard landscaping style that consists of plants and vegetation that grow well within their local climate. This drastically cuts down on water costs and consumption in comparison to lawns, as the vegetation is acclimated to the natural weather. Xeriscaping’s goal is to create a drought resistant and temperature resilient yard. This practice has taken off in many southern states such as Texas and Arizona, where homeowners are becoming more water conscientious. However, xeriscaping is quickly spreading to other states too, as a modern alternative to lawn prevalent yards.
There are a plethora of benefits to xeriscaping other than reduced water consumption. With the addition of native plants over grass, you will find an increase in local pollinators visiting your yard, like butterflies, hummingbirds, and honeybees. Xeriscaped yards are the perfect respite for them. These yards are also incredibly eco-friendly, requiring less fertilizer and treatments that can adversely affect wildlife and other plants. Because these yards are made of acclimated plants, and other non-care intensive landscaping options, many homeowners find that the required maintenance time drops by 50% or more.
Xeriscaping your yard doesn’t mean you have to tear out every scrap of lawn there is. You can do both, and still reap many of the benefits. Many xeriscape yards have a portion dedicated to a kids play area or relaxation spot, where they’ve kept a small portion of their lawn for practical purposes. The rest is made up of a combination of your choosing:
- Rocks
- Wood chips
- Mulch
- Plants
- Natural grasses
- Flower
- Bushes
- Acclimated trees
- And more!
In an HOA, this type of change to your homes appearance most likely requires approval by the designated Architectural Review Committee, unless specifically approved in the CC&Rs. Before you sign with a contractor, buy any plants or make plans beyond your initial yard design, we recommend that you reach out and find out exactly what’s possible in your community. We do however encourage you to do your research and come up with some awesome creative ideas for your yard this summer!
