Landscaping Ideas With Little or No Water

Attractive landscaping adds equity and visual interest to a home. But with increasingly busy schedules, many homeowners desire a lawn that has little to no maintenance requirements. Mowing grass, trimming hedges and watering lawns can add up to lost hours during the weekend and costly water bills. Several landscaping techniques can be used to minimize the water consumed to upkeep the yard.

Adding a porch or a seating area to a home's landscape provides a family-friendly place to relax.. Outdoor living spaces are designed to be functional and welcoming. A large seating area can be perfect for those who entertain often, while a small bistro-style patio is perfect for a morning cup of coffee or tea. Families with young children can plan a playground area. Patios and porches are low maintenance in comparison to plants, which makes them a popular landscaping choice.

Hardscaping, a fairly new term in the gardening world, refers to using rocks or stones as design elements in a landscape design. A stone wall, slate pathway or large decorative rocks are elements of hardscape design. Placing large stone tiles or creating a path of flagstone can add visual interest to a landscape without additional water requirements. Larger scale designs incorporate elements like pergolas and lattices. Expanding a narrow driveway or home entry way are also examples of utilizing hardscaping.

Xeriscaping refers to planting drought-tolerant plants that require few resources to survive. Drought-tolerant plants need little water to thrive, making them a good option for lawns requiring little to no water. There are a myriad of flowering and non flowering plants that fit into this category. It's important to keep in mind the growing zone for your area when selecting plants. Native desert plants may be attractive options requiring little water but may not be able to survive in cooler climates. Take into account the amount of sunshine and type of soil that the plants will thrive in. With so many options to choose from, there should be a nice selection of drought-tolerant plants for your area.

Grass-covered lawns may be the traditional form of ground cover, but they also require maintenance and water. Replacing a portion of the grass covered lawn with pebbles or gravel reduces the overall area that requires watering. It also reduces the maintenance of the lawn, providing one less area to weed and seed each year. Repurposing an area of the lawn to be grass-free can simply mean planting a few drought-tolerant shrubs or low-level ground covers.