Xeriscaping

There have been moves toward rock landscapes to have a low-maintenance garden. In Florida, the heat requires additional planning in setting up a garden to be water efficient and beautiful all year round.

Xeriscaping is the landscaping process of gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation. Planning your garden to be water efficient is the aim, not eliminating natural plants and grasses.

Many homes in the Florida area have opted for rock gardens. They may be easy to maintain but are not eco-friendly at all.

Firstly, we need plants and grass to filter out pollutants that would naturally enter our groundwater. Grass and plants in your yard trap harmful sediments that can pollute the water. Grass removes these potential pollutants from the water runoff and uses them to grow.

There are a few ways that pollutants can reach groundwater. Runoff and leaching are two of the main reasons. Run-off is where there is not enough shrubbery or grass to stop soil erosion. This is often made worse by flash floods, where most of the water and soil will be swept away with the rain.

The second main issue is where the ground is very porous, and the water percolates through the soil. Having flat, sandy, and porous ground, Florida has more of a leaching problem.

Having more greenery in your yard also cools down the area. Having too many rocks and especially white rocks in your yard can increase the overall temperature. What you hope to save in water, you spend on air-conditioning for your home.

The aim is to use xeriscaping creatively to reduce water consumption, increase pollutants filtering, and reduce erosion.

    1. Plan your irrigation system. By ensuring you have the appropriate system installed, you can reduce water consumption. A mixture of sprinklers and drip/bubble irrigation will ensure efficient watering of your garden.
    2. Efficient irrigation and plant layouts. Group your trees, shrubs, and ground cover according to their water needs. Some plants require less water to flower, so planting them amongst others that need a lot of water will reduce their efficacy. Efficient irrigation and plant layouts. Group your trees, shrubs, and ground cover according to their water needs. Some plants require less water to flower, so planting them amongst others that need a lot of water will reduce their efficacy.
    3. Manage your irrigation system. Checking, servicing, and adjusting your irrigation system regularly is essential. Fixing leaks and changing watering times can reduce your overall water consumption.
    4. Layout practical turf areas. Turf reduces runoff. So including this in your garden can reduce erosion overall. Turf requires less water than most plants, so plan it carefully. Replacement options can consist of low-water ground covers or drought-tolerant plants as well.
    5. Including swales in your garden. These are low-level run-offs that often work well to reduce erosion. Planting grass or turf in the swales is more efficient than rocks, as the grass reduces the pollutants from entering the groundwater.
    6. Planting drought-resistant plants in your garden can keep it green and maintain a pretty yard while reducing water consumption.
    7. Using mulch in your flowerbeds also reduced evaporation. Adding pine needles or wood chips can create a beautiful setting and be practical at the same time. Always use mulch over soil and never over plastic.
    8. Maintenance is a year-round requirement to optimize your garden. Pruning, mowing, and weeding at appropriate times reduce water consumption. Limited use of fertilizers, pest control, and over-irrigation can all contribute to saving our precious water.

Understanding water conservation is all of our responsibility. We need to ensure we look after the limited natural resources we have. Building landscapes with natural plants, grasses, and mulch can reduce wastage and keep our gardens green.

If you want assistance with you HOA community in South Florida regarding Xeriscaping tips, touch base with the professionals to get it done, Lucky Landscaping is just a call away.

Our Crew

Only our trusted crews will be working on your property. All of our employees have background checks done, so you can rest assured that our crews are safe to be on your property. We hold our employees accountable and train them in customer service and best lawn care and landscaping practices, so you will only have responsible and conscientious workers taking care of your South Florida HOA Landscaping.

Do not hesitate to call Lucky Landscaping at 561-779-4127 and we will gladly make an appointment to discuss your Palm Beach County Landscaping needs and give you a quotation for the work.