Maximize Water Conservation With Your Vegas Landscape
Whether you want to help the planet or are abiding by water conversation standards in your area, it’s a good idea to plan your Vegas landscape to maximize water conservation. Not only does this mean using less water, but many drought-resistant plants are very beautiful and require minimal maintenance. This will give you some tips on how to properly plan your yard.
How to Organize Your Vegas Landscape
Planning around water conversation, also known as xeriscaping, means doing things in a way that requires little or no extra water. That might seem surprising when it comes to Vegas’s often harsh climate, but it’s very possible if you use the right plants and know what you’re doing.
While a professional Las Vegas landscaper can certainly help with this, it’s good to know how to do this yourself so that you know why this landscaping is done in a specific way.
The first thing you should consider is how the plants are organized. You want to avoid areas with lots of traffic. Not only does this put the plants at risk of being stepped on or damaged, but this can increase how much water is needed in general. That’s true even if you use drought-resistant plants in these areas.
Raised beds can work quite well, but you might want to use a rock garden instead. Rock gardens are able to maximize sparse water supplies while also adding aesthetic beauty to your Vegas landscape. Choose rocks with vibrant colors and different sizes to make your yard really pop.
It’s also a smart idea to group plants that have similar water and light requirements. This allows them to grow together and to make use of the limited resources. At the same time, give each plant their own space. You don’t want them to fight over resources, and you don’t want certain plants to be blocked from the sun.
Water Conversation and Irrigation
You’ll need an irrigation system in place whether you’re conversing water or not. While drought-resistant and other hardy plants need less water, they still do need the right amount of water to survive. Sometimes they get enough from rain and the environment, but chances are that you’ll need to water them every now and then.
That being said, irrigation doesn’t have to mean overusing water. You can actually use this to reduce your overall water usage. The first step is to know how much water your plants actually need. Most xeriscaping plants need very little water, and giving them exactly what they need and not a drop more is essential to keeping them healthy.
You can also adjust your irrigating, whether it’s a timed system or manually watering them, based on rainfall and moisture. If there is rain, then reduce or stop your irrigation that day.
Another very important factor is that you should maximize your irrigation. Many people new to landscaping will water plants during the day while focusing on getting water on the leaves. That’s not the right way to do this.
You first want to ensure that you water deeply. The leaves and parts coming out from the ground might catch your eye, but what really needs water is the roots. Make sure that your water system gets the roots so that no water is wasted.
You’ll also want to adjust your watering time. Watering during the day sounds like a good idea, but it’s much better to water them at night. Water tends to evaporate more during the day. Not only does this reduce how much moisture the plants get, but the humidity might damage them as well. Watering during the day ensures they get as much water as possible.
Xeriscaping Soil
Another essential element when planning your Vegas landscape for water conservation is the soil. While it’s somewhat easier to drop plants in your existing soil, the truth is that your soil probably isn’t as nutritious or water-retaining as it should be. Using the right soil can improve water conservation while also helping your plants grow.
Using compost, or making your own, can be very beneficial for these plants. This allows the soil to retain water much better. It can also give your plants more nutrients so that they grow healthier and more resistant to drought. Keep your plants in mind though. Some Vegas plants love pure compost while others are desert plants that like gravel and rocks.
It’s best to research what is best for your chosen plants. Since this can take time and it might be hard to get accurate information, it’s suggested that you get professional landscaping in Las Vegas. This will ensure that you have a knowledgeable person who will treat your landscape correctly.
Another thing to keep in mind is that certain soils, even if they are full of nutrients, might actually hurt your plants. For example, a soil that retains too much water might cause mold or other issues for plants that only want a small amount of water. Be sure to do your research before picking soil.
Using the Right Mulch
Another significant factor in planning out your landscaping in Las Vegas is mulch. Some people confuse soil and mulch, so you might be wondering what the difference is. Mulch is a layer of material that is added to the top of your soil. Not only does the mulch decompose and give more nutrients to the soil, but it also acts as a barrier that keeps more moisture in the ground.
Mulch is made from many different materials. Much like with soil, you want to make sure that you do your research before choosing a material. It comes down to how much moisture your plants need and what they work best with.
You’ll find that most mulches are made from bark, wood, rocks, grass clippings and other materials. While there are differences to each of them, you should know that they all help your yard. If you are using drought-resistant plants that only want a small amount of moisture, then rocks are probably the best. While they hold moisture well, they allow more to escape than wood and bark. This can actually be a good thing for certain plants.
Other benefits of mulch include protecting your plants from the wind, cooling them down and reducing the damaging effects of heavy rain.
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