Water in the desert - Xeriscaping doesn’t have to all be desert

Water conservation and water features are not mutually exclusive. You can have both with thoughtful design, careful construction and appropriate maintenance.

An old Chinese proverb states that “a garden without water is like a face without eyes. Water is a significant element in nearly every historical garden style. It is one of the essential ingredients of all life, along with the sun, air and earth. You can see, hear, feel, smell, and taste it. You can enjoy it from the small mountain stream to the man-made inland lake and the rolling ocean waves to the backyard water feature.

No longer time-consuming and costly.

Improved technology has made it easier to design, install and maintain water features in residential landscapes. Water features can be built in nearly every climate zone. They can be any size, from a small bath tub size to a large water falls system with multiple falls, streams, pools, and ponds.

A balanced ecosystem is essential.

It is a good idea to try to establish a balanced ecosystem with efficient filtration of the water; a fish-friendly EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer; synthetic rubber) liner covered with gravel and cobble; and algae eating bacteria along with water plants, fish and other aquatic animals that will all work together to keep the water clean and clear with a minimum of maintenance and water loss from evaporation and leakage.

Water-saving tips

Xeriscaping and xerogardening refers to landscaping and gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation. It is promoted in areas that do not have easily accessible supplies of fresh water, and is gaining acceptance in other areas as climate patterns shift.

Water features and the surrounding xeriscape landscaping can be designed to use 30 to 35 percent less water as the same area of high-water consuming lawn turf grasses. Surface areas of ponds, streams, and falls should be held to a minimum to reduce evaporation. The sides of ponds and streams should be nearly vertical. Falls should be minimized in height to prevent splashing on adjacent surfaces.

Care should be taken in the placement of cobble and gravel to avoid puncture or excessive wear on the EPDM liner. Pumps and plumbing should be as high efficiency as possible and should be protected from freezing in cold weather. Automatic filler devices should be adjusted to prevent over filling.

Since 1964 landscape architect Tom Stephens has focused on creating environmentally sensitive and economically efficient landscape projects using natural, recycled and low maintenance materials and techniques; colorful and eye-catching multi-seasonal color effects; and low-water use techniques (Xeriscape). He co-wrote “Xeriscape Gardening -Water Conservation for the American Landscape” in 1992. He operates Your Landscape Solutions (YLS); information: www.commonsenselandscaping.com.