Xeriscaping: good for nature – and gardeners

The water-saving gardening technique is friendly to the environment and 'lazy gardeners' alike.

from the April 12, 2007 edition

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"Are you putting in a sprinkler system?" they asked.

"No," I replied. "I'm xeriscaping."

"What does that mean?" they asked.

"It means a lot less work for me," I replied.

"Well, what you're doing looks like a lot more work," they said.

Some people think a xeriscape must resemble Death Valley – bone-dry and filled with cacti. But it doesn't have to be that way. It can look as refreshing as any oasis. My small area of grass gives the illusion of a lawn, but its size means less watering for me – and a big boost for the environment.

The next summer was one of the driest on record in my area, and lawn irrigation was indeed rationed. By then my xeriscape was well-rooted. While other yards turned brown, my hard work paid off in bunches of blossoms.

Besides being a more colorful landscape, my yard now takes less time to maintain and uses about half the water as before. It feels good to know I did my part to give Mother Nature a hand.

The fact is, there will always be a drought somewhere in Colorado, and it doesn't make sense for residents to keep irrigating large swaths of Kentucky bluegrass.

I've now become fanatical about saving water in my landscape, but being a lazy gardener will always be my first priority.

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