One of my favorite plants - echinacea or purple coneflower.

On a recent visit to Southern California, I was amazed at the number of yards that had been transformed via xeriscaping (or “dry landscaping”).

Gardening in a Drought

Faced with a water shortage, the residents have redesigned their lots to include beautiful native plants, groundcovers, and mulches. Although most people think of a xeriscape as a sun-baked Arizona yard with a few cacti, the seven principles of xeriscaping can be applied anywhere and look as inviting as a normal garden. Here are three tips to help you start the xeriscaping process:

Use Native Plants to Xeriscape

After they are established, plants that are native to your area will typically thrive without much additional irrigation. Ornamentals shipped in from other places tend to require more water and/or maintenance. If you don’t want to be restricted to plants native to your area, research plants that thrive in similar climates around the world (as long as they’re not invasive). Visit a local nursery for their recommendations. Some of my favorite xeriscape plants for Montana include Russian Sage, Lewis’ Flax, and Echinacea.

Reduce Your Lawn Size

Lawns typically require much more water than a native garden bed of comparable size. Instead, replace some or all of your lawn with shrubs, garden beds full of native plants, permeable pavers or concrete, or groundcovers. I tried to practice this principle in my front lawn, where I divided about one-third into rocks, one-third grass, and one-third a large garden bed planted with bulbs and low-maintenance perennials and shrubs. One couple in Missoula removed their entire lawn and replaced it with a prairie. While that may not put you on the best terms with your Homeowner’s Association, consider taking small steps, like replacing an area of grass with a small patio made with permeable pavers.

I included rocks, grass, and some nice flower beds.

Mulch Your Plants to Preserve Water

Placing a 2 to 4-inch layer of mulch around your plants will slow water evaporation. Many different substances can be used for mulch, including bark, rocks, grass clippings, and/or a permeable weed barrier. I use a weed barrier in conjunction with bark and cedar shavings for most of my beds. Not only does this keep the ground moist longer, it also helps prevent weeds from emerging.

Xeriscaping doesn’t have to be complicated or ugly. By practicing these tips, you can save water for other things – like a cool glass of lemonade. For additional information, visit this site from Colorado State University.