Out of ecological awareness or to save money, xeriscaping offers an interesting alternative to the traditional garden that requires too much water.
What is xeriscaping?
A word composed on the basis of the Greek 'Xero' meaning 'dry' and 'scape' meaning 'landscape', xeriscaping is a technique that allows the creation of gardens that do not require water. The plants grow almost without maintenance, creating wild or uncluttered pictures, evoking the Mediterranean, desert areas, or far away places.
Is xeriscaping possible in all types of climate?
This type of garden corresponds perfectly to regions where the summers are very long, hot and dry. If the soil is poor, sandy, stony and therefore very well drained, it is even better!
You can embark on this type of project, which is much more interesting from an ecological point of view than creating vast lawns and planting plants that need coolness like in English gardens!
Xeriscaping allows you to adapt to the difficult climate and the nature of the soil, which will not need to be amended to grow these more than resistant plants.
No watering, limited maintenance and no modification of the soil are the major advantages of xeriscaping! Weeds grow less on dry ground and under the sweltering heat, which means less weeding!
What type of plants?
The plants chosen must be able to grow with what nature offers in terms of rainfall and soil. They must therefore be adapted to this specific environment and to the particularities of your land. To do this, turn to plants that grow spontaneously in your region, which will be a boon to the biodiversity of your garden.
Pollinating insects will find shelter and food there and why not, a safe place to lay their eggs, as is the case for certain butterflies.
For example, if you live in the Mediterranean region, think of rockroses, lavender, thyme, rosemary, but also juniper, immortelle or beautiful grasses so light in the wind.
Observe the foliage of plants: if it is hairy, narrow, leathery, sometimes grayish or white, it means that the plant is equipped to resist evapotranspiration and drought.
Obviously, cacti and succulents are part of this, so you can use them and abuse them in this type of garden. If you like them, you will be amazed by their sumptuous blooms!
Think also of the plants that come to rest during the dry season, some bulbs are part of it and will reappear only the following spring to cover your garden with their colorful blooms.
