Are there any ways of conserving water in landscaping?

Question

What plants are suitable for landscaping that would help save water, and stil beautify the lawn? Are there any preferred type of soil here? Does the soil still need any fertilizers? How to do this now- SAving water in ladscape?

Answer 1

Some of the biggest water savers are things you put in the soil.

The best one is a crystal that turns into a gel when it contacts with water. It then releases the water as the lawn gets gets dried out. There are many companies that make it. http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=gel+water+soil&fr=yfp-t-447&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=water+absorbent+polymers&fr=yfp-t-447&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogel
And:
http://www.friendsofwater.com/Zeba_Amendment.html

Vermiculite and perlite are fairly inexpensive in large quantities but not as effective.
Difference between perlite and vemiculite:
"Perlite and vermiculite make excellent soil amendments"
http://homeharvest.com/soilamendmentsperlitevermiculite.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiculite
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061124093439AA9Txlr

By the way, NASA is predicting severe future water shortages in the Southwest.

300,000 babies are born to illegal aliens each year. In just 20 years there won't be enough water because all of the population growth.

Answer 2

What you are really looking for is to Xeriscape your yard. Ditch the lawn, if you really need a green space, try astroturf, no water synthetic lawn, like at minigolf places, only you can get a much nicer quality. Or just limit the grass area to what you need if you have children or like to have a grassy area to play soccer or football in, keep what you need and will use loose what you dont.

Definately go to a local garden center and discuss your goals with them and try and choose local plants(including your grass if poss. or a drought tolerant kind like Buffalo Grass), and make sure you put them in an area appropriate for their growth full sun shade etc.

You may also want to check with your city see if they have any programs in place to help make your garden more water efficient, there are a lot of municiple programs in place especially in drought prone areas of North America.

Below is a great starters website.

As for grass, it is suppose to be long and lucious, we feed it a ton of water and fertilizer to grow, then as soon as it does we cut it. Thats a pretty big waste in my mind, especially if you arent every going to use it for anything but push a lawnmower over so loose the lawn, and go for something more intresting.

Answer 3

You can conserve water by using a drip or slow release method. When water is forced into the air, it will evaporate. But, when you release it directly on to the soil, it will go in and you will save a lot of water. You can buy special hoses that do this or an irrigation contractor can install this type of watering system.

Answer 4

If you have trees plant hosta's all around them. They come in many different styles. Easy to plant, carefree. They do better tho in the shade. If you don't have trees plant some, if you have room go for big trees, if not go for minatures or the mimosa is a wonderful choice. Ours has pink fluffy things all over them-flowers but not really, they are so delicate. They have long straight outcroppings with very thin but multitudes of leaves-good for shady/diffuse light.

Answer 5

if you really want to save water, ditch the lawn entirely. Lawns use way too much water. if you do not get rid of the lawn, don't bother trying to save water elsewhere that's like trying to bail out at sinking boat with a thimble.

Answer 6

Another method you might want to employ is use of a "rain barrel". The kits are available at many online garden retailers. It's basically a large bucket that ties into your gutter system. It stores rainwater for use in your garden, rather than using the public system or drying out your well.

Answer 7

Start with Native plants to that area.Talk to your local nurseryman (or woman) about whats available.Next get the pH in your soil balanced,and last but not least,mulch,mulch,mulch,and even more mulch.This helps keep the water from evaporating.

Answer 8

What you're rather searching for is to Xeriscape your backyard. Ditch the backyard, in case you surely choose a eco-friendly area, attempt astroturf, no water man made backyard, like at minigolf places, purely you may get a lots nicer high quality. or merely shrink the grass section to what you elect in case you have infants or choose to have a grassy section to play soccer or soccer in, save what you elect and could use loose what you dont. Definately bypass to a close-by backyard middle and communicate your targets with them and attempt and choose interior reach plant life(jointly with your grass if poss. or a drought tolerant form like Buffalo Grass), and confirm you place them in a close-by ideal for his or her advance finished solar coloration and so on. you additionally can choose to envision with your city see in the event that they have any classes in place to help in making your backyard extra water efficient, there are various municiple classes in place particularly in drought carriers factors of North united states of america. under is a great starters website. As for grass, it rather is assume to be long and lucious, we feed it a ton of water and fertilizer to advance, then as quickly because it does we cut back it. Thats a reasonably large waste in my concepts, particularly in case you arent each and every going to apply it for something yet push a lawnmower over so loose the backyard, and decide for something extra intresting.

Answer 9

oregon state university hort. dept is the best around...