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Water Wise Landscaping

Water Wise Landscaping. Rick Durham Department of Horticulture. Average residential water use increases 30% - 50% during the summer months when citizens turn on their outdoor irrigation systems. Water Conservation Measures.

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Water Wise Landscaping

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  1. Water Wise Landscaping Rick Durham Department of Horticulture

  2. Average residential water use increases 30% - 50% during the summer months when citizens turn on their outdoor irrigation systems

  3. Water Conservation Measures • Summer Surcharge: Rate increases 25% to 100% when use exceeds average winter consumption. • Rationing: Odd/Even outdoor watering • Bans on Outdoor Use • Solution: Economic Incentive + Education

  4. This is equivalent to: 14 five-minute showers 26 runs of the dishwasher 72 flushes of the toilet 9 full loads of laundry One portable lawn sprinkler operating 1 hour uses 360 gallons of water

  5. Coined by Denver Water in 1978, now trademarked From the Greek Word “Xeros”, which means dry (Pronounced Zera-scape)

  6. Seven Steps of Xeriscape • Planning and Design • Soil Analysis • Appropriate Plant Selection • Practical Turf Areas • Efficient Irrigation • Use of Mulches • Appropriate Maintenance

  7. Seven Steps of Xeriscape Planning and Design Soil Analysis Appropriate Plant Selection Practical Turf Areas Efficient Irrigation Use of Mulches Appropriate Maintenance

  8. High Water-use Zone (Oasis Zone) Moderate Water-use Zone (Transition Zone) Low Water-use Zone (Xeric Zone) Divide the Landscape into Three Water-use Zones

  9. High Water-use Zone (Oasis Zone) Small “high-impact” or high visibility area of the landscape where plants are provided their optimum water requirement at all time Entrance to the home or business Annual flowers

  10. Moderate Water-use Zone (Transition Zone) Plants are watered during establishment. Then, once established, they are watered only when they show signs of water stress. Shrubs, dogwoods, redbuds, herbaceous perennials

  11. Low Water-use Zone (Xeric Zone) Once established, plants are provided no supplemental irrigation, except during periods of extreme drought Juniper, Oaks, Maples Viburnums, Ornamental grasses

  12. Goal of Water Wise Landscapes Reduce and minimize the size of the area irrigated and the frequency of irrigation

  13. House Spirea Little Gem Magnolia Itea Euonymus Nandina Driveway Turfgrass Native Trees Native Oak N Street

  14. Low Modere Low High Water-use Zone

  15. Mulch Daffodils/Siberian Iris/Daylilies Mulch Ornamental Grasses Annuals Year 1

  16. Low Moderate Low Moderate Low High Water-use Zone Low High Year 1

  17. Liriope Mulch Fescue Year 2

  18. Low Low Low Moderate Low Moderate Moderate Low Low Moderate Water-use Zone Low High Year 2

  19. Barberry Purple coneflower Year 3

  20. Low Low Low Moderate Low Moderate Low Low Low Moderate Water-use Zone Moderate High Year 3

  21. Low Low Low Moderate Low Moderate Low Low Low Moderate Water-use Zone Low High Year 4

  22. Seven Steps of Xeriscape Planning and Design Soil Analysis Appropriate Plant Selection Practical Turf Areas Efficient Irrigation Use of Mulches Appropriate Maintenance

  23. Urban soils Often lack topsoil Prone to compaction Organic matter is best remedy Increases soil structure Increases porosity and drainage Increases water holding capacity

  24. How Much Amendment to Use? 25% by Volume 3 inches incorporated to a 12 inch depth 1 cu. yd. / 100 sq. ft. = 3 in. on soil surface 1 cu. yd. = 27 cu. ft. = Nine 3 cu. ft. bags or thirteen 2 cu. ft. bags / 100 sq. ft.

  25. Use only decomposed organic material (right) as a soil amendment

  26. More plants are killed from over-watering than from drought

  27. Possible Solutions to Poorly-drained Soils Plant on raised beds Deep cultivation Install sub-surface drainage Select appropriate plants Possible Solutions to Poorly-drained Soils

  28. Seven Steps of Xeriscape Planning and Design Soil Analysis Appropriate Plant Selection Practical Turf Areas Efficient Irrigation Use of Mulches Appropriate Maintenance

  29. A few good “drought tolerant” plants

  30. Annuals

  31. Gazania rigens - Gazania Various colors, most bicolors, full sun 6-10 inches tall Few pests Good drought tolerance Individual flowers are short lived but many flowers on the plant

  32. Gomphrena globosa - Globe Amaranth Purple, orange, lavender, white flowers, full sun 12-48 inches tall Few pests Used as bedding, border, cut and dried

  33. Helianthus annuus - Sunflower Orange, yellow, bicolors, full sun 2-14 feet tall Powdery mildew is the biggest pest problem Used as border and cut flowers Attractive to butterflies, birds

  34. Melampodium paludosum - Melampodium Yellow flowers, full sun to partial shade 24-36 inches tall Few pests, occasionally powdery mildew is a problem Used as bedding or border plants May reseed but not invasive

  35. Petunia x hybrida - Petunia Many colors and bicolors, single and double flowers, full sun to part shade 12-16 inches high, some shorter Few pests Used as bedding and container plants Fertilization and moisture keep them looking good

  36. Portulaca grandiflora - Moss Rose Various colors, full sun 6-10 inches tall Few pests Used in bedding and containers Very heat and drought tolerant

  37. Salvia faranacea - Mealycup Sage Blue or white flowers, full sun 18-24 inches tall Few pests Used as bedding plants and as dried flowers (calyx)

  38. Zinniaspp. – Profusion Zinnias Pink, orange, white, full sun 12-18 inches tall Few pest, powdery mildew resistant Used as bedding and container plants A little more expensive but well worth it

  39. Perennials

  40. Achillea - Yarrow Many colors, flower in late spring to summer 2-3 feet tall Few pests Borders, cut flowers, dried Cuttings or division in spring or fall, some by seed

  41. Aquilegia x hybrida - Hybrid Columbine Flower colors, many and bicolors, in spring and early summer 1½ to 3 feet tall Leaf miners may make foliage unattractive Used in borders, will also do well in part shade Division in late summer, seed

  42. Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly weed Flowers orange in summer 1-2 feet tall Major pest – aphids Used as a border plant and for cut flowers, attractive to butterflies. Propagate by seed or root cuttings, does not transplant well.

  43. Aster spp. - Asters Flowers in blues, violets, whites in summer and fall 1-6 feet tall, taller varieties must be staked Powdery mildew is the major pest Used for borders and cut flowers Propagate by division in spring

  44. Baptisia australis – False indigo Blue flowers in late spring 3-5 feet tall Few pests Used in borders, dried seed pods Division in late fall or early spring, seed

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