Xeriscape Gardening

As the weather gets warmer we all think about getting outside to work on our gardening and landscaping. We all know vegetable gardens are an eco friendly way to feed our families fresh home grown vegetables. But what else can we do in our own yards to make a difference for our environment and local communities?

I moved into a new house over three years ago. We chose this particular house over others because it had a much bigger yard. But the entire yard was all green grass. I live in the Front Range of Colorado, which is a very dry climate. I have made a commitment to decrease the amount of grass each year. This will decrease the amount of water I use and time I spend mowing it. I have added not only a nice rocked in play area for the kids, but also a fabulous xeriscape garden.

Why plant a xeriscape garden? In most of the Western United States over 50% of residential water use is applied to landscape and yards. Planting native plants and xeriscape can reduce the water requirement by 60%. This is a way to make a significant change in our water use.

Not only does Xeroscape reduce water use but it is also easier to maintain and allows you to spend more time with your family. If you don't know much about native pants in your area talk to a local garden center. You can also get more information from Colorado WaterWise.