Here’s something to keep in mind as the weather gets warmer: Watering the garden and lawn can use a large amount of water, especially in the summertime. The practice of “xeriscaping” conserves water in gardens with the practice of seven established principles: planning and design, soil improvement, appropriate plant selection, practical turf areas, efficient irrigation, use of mulches and appropriate maintenance.
“You can save up to 70 percent on a water bill in the summer,” said Toni Gwin, a botanist in Washington.
Xeriscaping, also referred to as drought gardening, began in the 1970s in Colorado. Begun as an earth-friendly practice, the techniques were actually developed by public utilities foreseeing a potential crisis. Cindy Wise, a Eugene resident, lived in Colorado when xeriscaping started.
“There was phenomenal growth in the Denver area. A lot of communities’ capacity to treat and deliver water was inadequate,” she said. “Basically you had escalating demand and static supply.”
Today, Wise advises gardeners on xeriscaping through the Master Gardener program at the Extension Service. Her approach focuses on gardening as a certain mindset rather than a strict set of rules.
“Be tolerant of less-than-perfection,” Wise said. “Pick the one xeriscaping principle that makes the most sense and start with it. Allow plants to be a little brown, including your lawn.”
Gardeners can also choose to group similar plants together. This helps conserve water by having low-water plants and high-water plants in separate areas. Plants stress less easily and use less water when grouped.
“It’s every plant in the right soil and right place with the right amount of moisture,” Gwin said. “But it’s not high-desert plants that people often think of when they think of drought gardening.”
Soil, especially the heavy clay found in many parts of Eugene, can be amended. Small particles pack tightly together in clay soil, leaving little to no air space. Compost or organic amendments can be added to aerate the soil.
“This opens it up to add nutrients,” Wise said. “This time of year you should get a ‘glopping’ sound when you dig. Right now the soil is as dry and workable as in June.”
Mulching an inch or more on top of the soil in flower or vegetable beds is also a good idea. The mulch can be a commercial product, dead leaves or home-grown compost. Pam Henderson gardens full time now that she has retired as a forester from Oregon State University.
“Mulch stops water from evaporating away,” she said. “Put down a soaker hose first, under the soil at the root level so it avoids evaporation. Then mulch over the top of it.”
Other tips for conserving water in the garden simply urge people to be more efficient.
“Have your plants that need more water closer to your house and hose. Then you don’t need to drag the hose across the yard to water plants and waste water,” Henderson said.
Henderson advised people to keep the amount of new plants in gardens this summer to a minimum because new plants require more water than established ones. Experienced gardeners might hold off on plans to add a new flower bed or edge to gardens, keeping garden sizes smaller to conserve water.