Xeriscape (zera’-scape) is a method of landscaping that saves water, money and time! It is the best way to have a beautiful, environmentally friendly, drought-proof yard. Drought proofing is easy and contrary to many misconceptions, it does not require sacrificing a traditional southern garden for one filled with cactus and rocks. It only requires adapting a different approach to landscaping … a more holistic approach. QUICKTIPS Design with conservation in mind Minimize turf areas Group plants by their watering needs Choose plants appropriate to area Plant in soil rich with compost Mulch 3-4” thick Xeriscaping involves water conservation through creative, appropriate landscaping and water management. This includes recommendations for plants, irrigation, soil preparation and maintenance. This inter-relationship recognizes the effect that one has on the other. Using one of the principles will improve your drought-tolerance. Skillful use of all of the principals will result in a landscape that is the envy of your neighborhood. The first step is to design with conservation in mind.  Begin by minimizing thirsty lawn areas and substituting this with an area of erosion-reducing ground cover, colorful perennials & moisture retentive mulch. Choose the right plant for the right place. If there is an area with bad drainage, plant items that like wet feet such as river birch, iris, swamp sunflower, or inkberry. On the contrary, a very hot and dry area could be planted with crape myrtle, abelia or lantana. This is the most obvious way to group your plants according to their watering needs. If there are thirsty plants that you really love and must have, such as impatiens or azaleas, keep these confined to a small area that provides maximum visual impact. Position them where you can easily water them. Do not scatter them across the entire property. For color in the periphery, choose the most drought tolerant plants, as these areas will be the most difficult to water. Next, use compost to enrich the soil. The more compost that you use in your lawn and garden the healthier your plants will be. You’ll save water and enjoy your garden all the more. Compost improves the heat and drought tolerance of plants. The organic materials in compost, in conjunction with the rhizobacteria and rhizofungi, naturally loosen and aerate the soil. This allows greater water & root penetration. The same combination works together to encapsulate and hold moisture in the soil by creating soil aggregates. Soil aggregates are a naturally occurring microcosmic system that rhizobacteria & rhizofungi produces in order to keep themselves from drying up and dying. The plant roots grow into them and are provided a natural reserve of nutrients and water that otherwise would have dissipated from the soil. Wise and efficient irrigation is a must! If you grouped your plants according to their watering needs, you will only have a few areas that require frequent watering. Minimize loss via evaporation by watering in the early morning or late evening. Consider drip irrigation, moisture-sensors and 3-4” of mulch to increase efficiency. Water the plants only when needed to produce a healthier and stronger plant. We also highly recommend filtering your irrigation water. Chlorine and Chloramines are EPA registered & controlled pesticides. You shouldn’t drink or bathe in water that has pesticides in them and neither should your plants. Pesticides will break down the soil food web and lessen the effectiveness of the compost and it’s ability to hold water to nourish the plants. These pesticides also contribute to the sterilization of the soil. When the soil food web breaks down your plants will be stressed and require more of your time and money to keep them alive. Maintenance when using Xeriscaping is easier and will save you money. The most obvious change will be in your decreased need to water. As your yard’s drought and heat tolerance increases, there will be less loss of plants. Healthy plants simply require less maintenance in general, as they are also less likely to get diseases or insects. A healthy landscape can be maintained organically thus eliminating toxic chemicals from your home environment. In these landscapes, beneficial insects are able to thrive and work for you by preying upon any harmful pests that arrive. Additional Xeriscape techniques suggest that you mow your grass high and don’t bag your clippings. You won’t even have to dethatch as the compost aids in the rapid assimilation  of the clippings while aiding extra nutrients. Lastly, allow your plants to grow naturally. This will save you hours of shearing/pruning and your plants will be more drought tolerant as they will not respond to that shearing by sprouting tender new growth that requires a lot of water. Georgia’s unpredictable weather means that we can’t count on the rain. By xeriscaping you will be protecting the investment you’ve made in your landscaping while also contributing to the conservation of our water resources. Conrad and Danna Cain are owners of Home & Garden Design, Inc., an Atlanta based company specializing in sustainable, natural, residential landscapes. They design and build Xeriscapes as well as the decks, patios, ponds and walls that create lovely outdoor havens and sanctuary gardens. Visit Home & Garden Design, Inc . to see photos of their award-winning landscapes.