Southern Breeze 2008 Spring Issue

home OUR BACKYARD Reasonable Drought When rain is scarce, a dry landscape—or xeriscape—is a viable and beautiful option. story and photography by NORMAN WINTER W Top photo: ‘Zowie! Yellow Flame’ zinnia (annual) and the ‘Evolution’ salvia (perennial) Bottom photo: Goldsturm black-eyed Susan (perennial) Butterfly pentas (perennial on the Coast), Million Gold melampodium (annual) and Profusion Fire zinnia (annual) ith rains being almost non-existent for much of the Gulf Coast region this past summer, many of us have gone back to thinking about tough plants as well as water conservation. Such was the case in the late 1970s, which led to the Denver Water Department developing the term “xeriscape” in 1981. At that time they realized that during a severe drought, a $25 rise in the monthly water bill meant an extra 25,000 gallons of water going to the yard. Those 25,000 gallons would fill an 1800-square-foot home two feet deep in water! So you can only imagine the amount of water used when bills went up by $75 to $100! Xeriscape means dry landscape, but many incorrectly think it to be “zero-scape.” I believe the seven aspects to xeriscaping are fundamental to good landscaping. If you are building or buying a home and the landscape is yet to be installed, try these xeriscaping principles. 1. Plan from the start that the landscape is to be water efficient. 2. Do a soil analysis to see if soil improvement is needed for better water absorption and holding capacity. 3. Lawns use more water and require more maintenance than groundcovers, so design the lawn for practicality. 4. Choose appropriate plants that are in tune with the Gulf Coast. You don’t have to plant cactus and you don’t have to go all natives, but choose plants known to be tough and free from constant problems. 5. An efficient irrigation system can instantly save you 30–50 percent on your water bill. 6. Use mulches to help water penetration and prevent water loss through evaporation. Norman is a frequent garden lecturer and author of Mississippi Gardener’s Guide, Paradise Found: Growing Tropicals in Your Own Backyard, and the highly acclaimed Tough-asNails Flowers for the South. 7. Use appropriate maintenance practices. Keep your grass taller, water deeply but less often, and keep weeds out. Most of us have felt like droughts will never really affect us. (Unfortunately we are there now and no one knows when it will subside.) In my county the annual rainfall is 18.5 inches below normal. But what about those of us who planted 57 azaleas and seven camellias last year, and have been trying to get grass established? The truth is water is critical to those plants’ survival. The first two years trees and shrubs are in your landscape determines whether they get well rooted and established. It is during times like this that a good, reputable irrigation company is worth every penny spent. Zoned irrigation systems allow micro-jet watering or drip to shrubs, while more conventional sprinklers are targeted to lawns. These allow us to maximize efficiency so we don’t have to water what doesn’t need it, and we can put the water directly where it is needed most. With the severe drought still on us, should we reconsider our landscape design, plant selection, and irrigation methods? You bet. Look at the pictures and you’ll see that tough, drought-tolerant plantings and combining annuals and perennials can provide some Kodak moments. 24 s o u t h e r n b re e z e . c o m http://southernbreeze.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Southern Breeze 2008 Spring Issue

Editor's Letter Contributor Gumbo Seen & Heard Coastal Calendar Storefronts - Keepin' it Reel Sweet Dreams - Grand Hotel Art of Living - Marking Time Fixtures - A Fitting End Our Backyard - Reasonable Drought Make Yourself at Home - Light up Your Life The Southern Breeze Hot List Unexpected Destin-ation Visual Zydeco We're an American Band The Good Life From Halter Tops to Maternity Tops Reader Services Cheers - Lazy Libations Dish - Mississippi Yearning Chef's Table - Welcome to The Doll House Let's Eat - Sunrise Sensations Last Bite

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