by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Blog, Maintenance, Maintenance Tips, Xeriscape
Xeriscapes can be designed to require very little maintenance, to be healthy and attractive with seasonal cleanup and pruning rather than weekly mowing, but no garden is completely maintenance-free. To ensure that your landscape looks its best and stays water-wise, you may need to:
- remove fallen leaves
- trim off old flower stems
- pull a few weeds
- observe insect activity and decide when intervention is warranted and what the least invasive and most effective approach might be,
- monitor watering
- fertilize plants that need supplementing
While this may seem like a long list of tasks, in real time most of these may amount to a few hours every two or three months. The preventative pest patrol and irrigation check can be done in the evening every week or two with a cool drink in your hand a relaxing reminder to stop and smell the roses.
by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Blog, Maintenance, Maintenance Tips, Xeriscape
Mulches are blankets of loose material that cover the soil to minimize evaporation, keep roots cool in summer, suppress weed growth and slow erosion. Mulches can also provide visual interest and make the landscape more cohesive until young plants mature to fill the space.
Fibrous mulches such as pecan shells, shredded bark and composted cotton burrs are commonly used in planting beds, especially where plants prefer organic matter.
Stone mulches such as crusher fines and gravel of various sizes and colors, can be used as pathways, lining rainwa- ter catchment, streambeds and basins, and to add texture to planting areas where desert plants prefer improved drainage.
Never use impervious plastic sheeting under mulches as it blocks air movement needed for healthy root growth and results in shallowly rooted plants more vulnerable to wind throw. Many types of pervious landscape fabrics are available where such material is needed for weed suppression or erosion control.
by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Blog, Water Conservation, Watering and Irrigation, Waterwise Tips
Efficient irrigation saves water. When plants are grouped by their water needs, plants that need water more often in summer, such as vegetable gardens, fruit trees or turf, can be accommodated while desert natives with the lowest water needs can be watered less often or not at all once they are well-rooted.
Choose lawn sprinklers that spray droplets, not high-pressure mist. They should have a low spray angle and be operated at the coolest, least windy times of day to minimize evaporative loss.
Most other plants should be watered with low-flow or drip irrigation equipment, applying water only where plant roots can access it, and only as often and as deeply as the plants require. Such careful application of water has the added advantage of minimizing weeds and preventing pest problems.
Plants use the least amount of water when they are dormant during the coldest winter months and the most water when they are actively growing, blooming and producing fruit in summer. In spring as temperatures rise and in autumn as temperatures fall, watering times should be adjusted to keep plants healthy without waste. Plants pushed with extra water in spring may leaf out or flower earlier, making them more vulnerable to late spring frosts. Likewise, watering too much in autumn can keep plants soft going into cold weather and make them more vulnerable to frost damage.
An automatic irrigation controller is only as efficient as the program that runs it – and the programmer who sets the run times – so program for wise water use, and water only as much as the landscape needs.
Remember, too, that even the best-designed irrigation system must be main- tained to retain its optimum efficiency. Fix leaks and make sure water lines are clean and unobstructed for peak performance.
by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Blog, Planting, Planting Tips, Water Conservation, Xeriscape
Choose native and low-water-use plants whenever possible. From the low desert of southern New Mexico to the foothills of the northern mountains, there is an amazing diversity of water-wise plants that we can use in our gardens. Whether you want to have year-round green, blazing flowers or a subtle blend of texture and color that changes through the seasons, there are well-adapted plants that can fill the space on a modest water budget. Grouping plants of like requirements also makes zoning irrigation easier and more efficient.
by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Blog, Lawn Care, Planting Tips, Water Conservation, Watering and Irrigation
New Mexico is the land of enchantment. The blue- grass state is Kentucky. People love our sunny skies and low humidity; bluegrass does not. How much thirsty lawn is appropriate here? Kentucky bluegrass is a cool season grass that requires a minimum of 40 inches of rainfall a year to stay lush and green. Many cities in New Mexico average 8 inches or less precipi- tation annually. That’s why we have to water bluegrass so much here in the high desert.
If we’re going to be serious about saving water, we have to rethink our lawns. The greatest value of cool season turf is its resilience as a play surface. Com- munities maintain public parks and playing fields with taxpayer dollars, and these cool amenities serve the citizens well. Homeowners generally don’t need a soccer field of turf in their backyards, and no one needs a huge expanse of water-guzzling turf in their front yard where its main use is outdoor carpeting.
There are hundreds of plants recommended for their medium and low water use in this guide including native grasses that can create a lush-looking green cover or gorgeous tapestry of color with less than half the water it takes to maintain a lawn.
by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Blog, Do It Yourself (DIY), Planting, Planting Tips
If you’re planting a lawn, a vegetable garden or fruit trees, you may need to add generous amounts of compost to your soil before you plant so that the soil absorbs and holds water more efficiently. If you’re landscaping with native and xeric plants, you probably don’t need to add any organic matter to the soil as these plants prefer lean soils. For arid-adapted plants, usually all you’ll need to do is loosen the soil well before you plant, and water deeply enough to encourage them to root extensively.
