Just because you want to put in a low-water garden doesn’t mean your yard will be lacking in style. In fact, quite the opposite! A water-wise yard can look simply stunning if done in the right way. Stick around for today’s look at low-water gardening ideas to refresh your yard–even in a dry climate!

About Low-Water Gardening

So what is low-water gardening? You may have heard the term “xeriscaping,” which is the practice of using a low-water landscape to reduce or even eliminate the need for any irrigation. There are low-water landscapes that survive {and thrive!} with only the annual rainfall for the area.

Low-water gardening takes a little know-how to implement, but it can be done. Step one would be to become knowledgeable about the zone you live in, the annual rainfall totals, and plants that do well in that environment.

Low-Water Gardening Ideas

• Does your yard sit on a slope? Install check dams. Check dams have been used since ancient times in very dry climates. A check dam is basically a barrier that causes water to pool in strategic places. It also helps guide rainwater to flow through garden areas where plants need it most.
• A low-water garden needs groundcover to help the soil retain water for longer. There are plants that work well for this, including water-wise succulents. Also look for Damianita, Tufted Evening Primrose, and Trailing Indigo Bush.
• How many times have you seen a yard with a very attractive dry stream bed of river rock? It isn’t just there for looks! In a low-water gardening landscape, a dry stream bed helps direct the flow of rainwater, much like a check dam would.
• Every low-water garden should make use of rain barrels to collect the rainwater that flows off your roof. This water is perfect for watering container gardens.
• If possible, reduce the size of your lawn and expand the size of your garden beds. Space plants further apart, and use decomposed granite to cover the soil while allowing rainwater to flow down through. Decomposed granite comes in soft, pretty colors perfect for a xeriscape.
• Layer plants to make a small garden feel a lot larger.

Even if you don’t need low-water gardening ideas, every gardener benefits from knowing the best gardening tips for drought conditions–just in case!