‘X’ marks the spot

For a long time, the concept of xeriscaping has been associated with arid, desert clients on the West Coast looking to eliminate water use. However, the primary principles of xeriscaping can be taken out of the desert and applied anywhere as a more eco-conscious choice.

Depending on where you are in the world, xeriscaping can mean a myriad of things, but the basics always boil down to two elements.

“The key principles are always plants and water,” says Elisa Clark, owner of Flutterby Gardens Landscaping in Boise, Idaho.

Native & natural

And for Clark — the possibilities are endless when it comes to a good xeriscape.

“Xeriscape doesn’t have to be all rocks and barren grounds,” she says. “A good, functioning xeriscape has foliage, color and texture. It isn’t just about a cactus and bare yards.”

What it does need though are plants that are native to the area and will thrive in a low-water setting.

That’s why even in Maryland, Carlos Suarez-Aguilar, an account manager with Level Green Landscaping, says the company is taking an interest in drought-tolerant plants.

“What we want to do on most of our commercial sites is develop a plan where we use more native, drought-resistant vegetation so there isn’t a need for a huge consumption of irrigation. The water we use is limited,” Suarez-Aguilar says.

Suarez-Aguilar adds that all native plants have different requirements when it comes to watering and soil conditions — that’s why it’s important to do your due diligence ahead of time and not just plant any old thing.

“What we focus on is to make sure that the plants we are putting will thrive. There are a lot of requirements we have to meet sometimes to make sure we are installing plant materials that are adequate for the area,” he says. “We will run soil tests and things like that and check the landscape to see if it’s an area that will get too much water or not enough water... we just try to plant accordingly.”

For Michael Padilla, president of Kevin Wood Landscapes in Austin, Texas, which means incorporating agaves and other succulents.

“I actually grow Whale’s Tongue Agave by the thousands to incorporate them into our area,” Padilla says. “They are one of the better performing agaves for our area.”

Other native preferences of Padilla’s include Red Yucca and Yucca Rostrata.

“We like to say that we plant stuff and forget about it,” he says. “We like to plant stuff and remove the irrigation. We choose things that can rely on rainwater and do well.”

The “plant it and forget it” mindset is a popular part of xeriscaping, Clark says — adding that she has her tried and true varieties she uses on almost every project.

“A lot of it is just rinse and repeat,” she says. “You’re applying the same principles to multiple yards.”

And if customers want a certain plant included in the design that isn’t native to the area, Padilla says he first tried to educate them on better options but will plant it if they’re insistent.

“I’ll go as far as not guaranteeing certain plants that clients want installed sometimes if it’s out of our hardiness zone or they’re not adapted enough to our area,” he says.

But it’s not just native plants that can make for an eye-appealing xeriscape — gravels, mulch and other ground covers can also contribute to the overall aesthetic.

“Funny enough, Austin really only had a few different types of gravel over the last 10 to 15 years. The more decorative gravel has become the more common choice,” Padilla says.

Both Clark and Suarez-Aguilar sing the praises of mulch — saying that it not only looks nice but helps the xeriscaped design conserve water.

“Some of the techniques that we use in this area include a lot of mulching,” Suarez-Aguilar says. “Mulch helps retain some of that soil moisture, suppress weeds and help control the soil temperatures.”

Location is just a state of mind

While the shores of Maryland might not be the first place you think of when imagining a xeriscaped yard, Suarez-Aguilar argues anywhere is a suitable place for xeriscapes as sustainability should never be turned away. He does say though that not all the traditional xeriscape favorites will thrive in his market.

“There are some similarities and things that can be used here,” he says. “The difference is our weather is kind of crazy. We have very wet springs and cold winters, and then we have really hot summers. The weather varies a lot.”

However, being so close to a major water source does make xeriscapes and native plantings important.

“Since we’re near the Chesapeake Bay, we deal a lot with stormwater management, and preventing that stormwater from going into our waterways,” he says. “Because we’re so close to the water, some places have requirements for native plants because they want to make sure the native plants are incorporated into the landscape to reduce maintenance and conserve water.”

Padilla adds that regardless of location, xeriscaping is increasingly in popularity — thanks to its success in those desert climates.

“I came from West Texas, and out there, xeriscaping is what we do — there’s no lush, green lawns there,” he says. “I came to Austin in 2010, and we focused on xeriscaping. I was actually bringing plants from West Texas, Arizona and California to sell over here. We were trying to create more of a desert feel than people had been used to.”

Up in Boise, Clark says she makes the case for xeriscaping quite a bit.

“A lot of people don’t even think about the fact that we do live in a region that needs a xeriscaped yard,” she says. “People don’t really look at Boise as a desert because of the trees but that’s not how it is. Our climate is very erratic, and we go from way below freezing to super, super hot. Having xeriscaping as a way to cope with all of that is definitely something that’s needed.”

Trending in the right direction

So, it seems that no matter what coast you’re on, xeriscaping is becoming a popular alternative to a traditional lawn.

“Out of all our residential work, I’d say about 60% to 70% of the clients are moving toward this kind of landscape,” Padilla says. “For the other percentage, when we start incorporating our modern design that the client wants… we try and recommend them toward a more xeric feel. We keep aligned with the main elements they want to see, but we definitely incorporate our water-wise plantings and coach them into what to use.”

Clark too says she always steers her clients toward a good xeriscape and adds staying up on the latest trends helps to sell them on it.

“I try and keep up with xeriscaping trends as much as I possibly can,” she says. “I’m really good at drought and low-water shade gardens. I always say we do the country garden feel with a low-water appeal.

“I’m not going to lie — in every yard, I try and sneak in my xeriscaping principles even if they don’t want them,” Clark admits. “I’m trying to change the environment here one yard at a time.”

Clark notes it’s very rare for someone to come to her without sustainability already in mind.

“A lot of people are actually looking for xeriscaping and low-water landscaping and they call us for that specifically,” she says. “They seek us out…it’s definitely getting way more popular, especially with people seeing the effects of global warming and how hot things are getting. Back in the day, 23 years ago, I had to convince people that water was an issue.”

Suarez-Aguilar has noticed in Maryland with more government regulations and incentives pushing for eco-conscious choices, more customers are getting on board with xeriscapes and other new ideas.

“I would say over the last three years, people are becoming more aware of the impact we have on the environment,” he says. “Recently there’s been more of an approach on trying to meet these goals and making environmentally friendly decisions when it comes to landscapes. There’s also a huge push from different organizations in our area and they offer grants and stuff to property owners to take the initiative and install rain gardens and things like that. There’s been a higher focus on getting these kinds of designs done.”

The author is an associate editor with Lawn & Landscape.