Which plants are Xeriscape?EUR??,,????<

For example, take an area that has an average annual rainfall of 28 inches. A plant from a higher rainfall area will need additional watering. Conversely, a plant from an area receiving less than 28 inches of rain should be placed in a spot that drains rapidly so water does not accumulate.

In addition to moisture requirements, you need to know the exposure a plant prefers and the type of soil where it grows best. If you are using native plants, a walk through a natural area will yield much of this information. Take a look at how nature achieves the delicate balance of form, color and texture in grouping these native plants together. By duplicating on your site what you see in the wild, you will be placing the native plants in their proper habitat.

When using plants from other regions in the landscape, there are even more considerations. In addition to those already mentioned, you should know the temperature limitations for each plant. And, just as important is a general knowledge of the altitude at which a plant grows. For Landscape Architects this may mean some additional studying in plant materials.

Let’s look at how to deal with each of these aspects of plant selection.

Moisture requirement: Plants from an area of higher rainfall will require additional watering. Locate these plants in low-lying areas that collect water or stay damp most of the time. Moist micro-climates can occur on north exposures and around air conditioning equipment or cooling towers. Consider container planting these high water-demand plants. Convenient placing of the pots or plants will allow for easy watering on a frequent basis. Plants that need less water than the local rainfall require good drainage. Place these plants on hillsides, tops of berms or in raised beds. These plants are also good candidates for container planting so the amount of water they receive can be monitored.

Place shade tolerant plants on the north and /or east exposure.

Sun Exposure: Many native plants prefer full sun, but will perform satisfactorily in part shade. You may want to consult with local native plant experts to find out how versatile these plants really are. Most flowering plants will require direct sun part of the day to produce a flower display. To have the most success with sun-loving plants, locate them on the south and/or west exposures, or in open areas of the landscape. Place shade tolerant plants on the north and/or east exposures. Doing this will help prevent leaf scorch, wilting and stunted growth.

Soil: If you use plants that are native to the area, minimal soil improvement will be necessary. If the soil is shallow, add a good quality topsoil to have a depth of six to twelve inches. In rocky soils it is important to remove any rocks from the planting hole to allow for good root-soil contact.

Soils that pose particular problems are clay soils, sandy soils and soils that are too alkaline or acid. Loosen clay soils with organic matter, sharp sand and gypsum. To help sandy soils retain more water, be generous with compost and mulch. You will not need to adjust the soil pH for native plants. For non-natives, it is essential to know the pH range they prefer. A point worth noting here is that it is more difficult to make alkaline soil acid than to make acid soil alkaline. If you must use acid-loving plants in an area where alkaline soils are predominant, limit the number of plants you use (acid-loving) and consider planting them in containers. Container planting will allow you to use a custom-blended soil mix that meets these plants’ requirements. Acid soils can be made less so by adding lime. The quantity and form of lime to use is determined by factors such as existing soil type, the intended plants and product availability. Local offices of the Soil Conservation Service and Agricultural Extension Service are valuable resources for this and similar soils information.

Temperature: Temperature ranges are an important consideration in choosing plants. The United States is divided into ten zones according to average lowest temperature. To minimize plant loss, select plants that are hardy to your zone. This means choosing the plants that can survive the coldest temperatures that may occur in the area. Just as important, however, are high summer temperatures. In parts of the South, for example, there are hot, humid days and warm, humid nights. Native plants thrive in this climate. However, many plants from other high temperature areas of the country require cool nights to perform best. This is typical of plants from higher elevations.

So what is a Xeriscape?EUR??,,????<

Martha Latta is Xeriscape?EUR??,,????<.