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Waterwise Gardening: Creating Your Own Xeriscape - Oregon State University
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Waterwise Gardening: Creating Your Own Xeriscape
Amy Jo Detweiler, OSU-Department of Horticulture
XERISCAPE
water-smart or water-wise, environmentally kind gardeningy g g
seven main components
MISCONCEPTIONS
all nativesfew plant choicesfew plant choices
all low water use plantsentire yard xeriscaped
WHY XERISCAPE?water conservationeasier maintenanceeasier maintenancebetter plant healthsaves moneyReduce runoff
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7 STEPSplanning & designplant
efficient irrigation
plant selection
soilsturf
mulchingmaintenance
1. PLANNING AND DESIGN
assess your site – taking note of structures, topography, and microclimates
1. PLANNING & DESIGN
collect ideasconsider your
budgetdo it yourself or
hire a landscape professional
1. PLANNING & DESIGN
different hydrozones or adaptive irrigation
Xeriscape 30-70% of the landscape
install in phases
4 HYDROZONES(IRRIGATION ZONES)
High
M d tuses l t lModerate
Low
Very low
supplementalwater
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Hydrozone or Irrigation zone Approximate water use in inches per week delivered within each zone
Examples of plant material found within each zone indicative of water use
high 1.5 to 2.0” turfgrass, willow, birches
moderate .75 – 1.0” crabapple, maples, oaks
low .5” or lower perennials, shrubs
very low natural precipitation native plants
2. PLANT SELECTION
group plants with similar water soil and exposure water, soil, and exposure needs
2. PLANT SELECTION
sitemature sizefunction
adaptabilitynon-invasivequalityfunction quality
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KNOW YOUR GARDENING
ENVIRONMENT SPECIFICATIONS
USDA Hardiness Zone
For use as a guide only
Hardiness Zone is not the same as climate zone
KNOW YOUR GARDENING
ENVIRONMENT SPECIFICATIONS
Microclimates Wind, shade, frost pockets, Wind, shade, frost pockets,
topography, drainage
Frost date Spring and Fall
Annual precipitationSoil type
PLANT FUNCTIONS
shadefruit
fall colortexture
flowerfragrance
wind breaks
HOW MUCH TIME, ENERGY, AND RESOURCES
ARE YOU WILLING TO EXPEND TO KEEP ANY
ONE PLANT HEALTHY?PLANT QUALITY
overall appearance, check for insects, disease, stress
branch patternsbranch patterns
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3. SOILDetermine what type of
soil is native to your area.How would you amend y
clay type soils and why? How would you amend
sandy type soils and why?
3. SOIL
Clay soil holds too much moisturemoisture Add amendments to lighten soil (coconut coir) Add 1/3 amendment to 2/3 native soil
Sandy soils drain too quickly Add amendments (compost) Add 1/3 amendment to 2/3 native soil
3. SOIL IMPROVEMENT
the goal is to create an environment in which roots are which roots are allowed to absorb water, nutrients, and air to sustain healthy plants
4. EFFICIENT IRRIGATION
well planned system –automatic more efficient if set up and managed right
reduces water use up to 40%
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EVAPOTRANSPIRATION
(ET RATE)
Soil water loss due to the combination of evaporation from the soil and transpiration from the plant
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SMART CONTROLLERS
HOW SMART CONTROLLERS WORK… SMART CONTROLLERS THAT PASSED
TESTING WITH 100% IRRIGATION
EFFICIENCY AND 0% IRRIGATION EXCESS
Irritrol Smart Dial Irritrol Smart DialToro Intelli-SenseWeatherTRAKRainbird ET Manager
SMART WATER APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY
(SWAT) PERFORMANCE REPORT:
I i i A i iIrrigation Associationwww.irrigation.org
WATERING PLANTS(SHRUBS, TREES, PERENNIALS)
water deeply (8-16”) d l ftand less often
new plants once a week
once established, as needed
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Drip line
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10
78
10
12
14
16
18
20
r S
qu
are
Fo
ot
per
Yea
r
5
3
1
0
2
4
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Bluegrass Tall Fescue WheatGrasses
ModerateWater
Plantings
Low waterplantings
Very Lowwater
plantings
Gal
lon
s p
er
Values taken from Denver Water Xeriscape™ Demonstration Garden
IRRIGATION TEST
dig down 6-8”ball up soilball up soil
If soil is saturated wait to irrigate.
If soil is slightly moist and stays in a ball
continue to water that day.
5. MULCH
is anything that covers the soil, including ground cover plantsincluding ground cover plants
organic & inorganic types
5. USING MULCH2-5” coverageproperly apply – replenish as necessary
Too much mulch (5”+) could lead to root rot or make it difficult for water to get to the roots
5. USING MULCH
mulched bedsreduce weeds/evaporation/ pprevent erosion
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6. USING TURFplace where functionaltraditional: 90% turfxeriscapes: 60% turf or lessxeriscapes: 60% turf or lesschoose alternative plants or low water use turf
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Turf-type tall fescue Kentucky bluegrass
Alternatives to traditional turf
WATERING TURF
1-2x per week during summerearly morning/dayearly morning/dayapply 1”- 1.5” per week
7. MAINTENANCE
pruningweedingweedingFertilizationIntegrated pest managementWinter watering
7. MAINTENANCE
plantingpruningpruningweedingfertilization
WHY TRY WATERWISE
LANDSCAPING?
water conservationreduce runoff/pollutioneasier maintenancebetter plant healthsaves money
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HOW TO RETROFIT
reduce turf areasadjust sprinkler system or adjust sprinkler system or irrigation practices
add low water use plants to your landscape
HOW TO RETROFIT reduce turf areasadjust sprinkler
system or irrigation tipractices
Add a smart controllerAdd low water use
plants and hardscaping
RESOURCEShttp://www.spokane-county.wsu.edu/spokane/eastside/Waterwise Landscapintside/Waterwise_Landscaping/waterwise_landscaping.htm
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/EC/EC1546
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes/sites/default
/files/xeri-all_1.pdf
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EXAMPLES OF
XERISCAPESXERISCAPES
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PLANT SELECTIONS
FORFOR
XERISCAPING
Woolly Thyme Woolly Thyme
Yellow Ice Plant Yellow Ice Plant
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Yellow Ice Plant Yellow Ice Plant
Purple Ice Plant
Mount Atlas Atlas Daisy
Mount Atlas Daisy Mount Atlas Daisy
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Partridge Feather Partridge Feather
Partridge Feather Pineleaf Penstemon
Pineleaf Penstemon Pineleaf Penstemon
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Pincushion Flower Pincushion Flower ‘ Butterfly Blue’
Pincushion Flower ‘Pink Mist’
Clematis
‘Nelly Moser’
Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ Clematis ‘Jackmanii’
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Blue Avena Grass Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum
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Serviceberry Serviceberry
Serviceberry
Serviceberry
Traditional Landscape
Blended Grass Mix or Native Grasses
