Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping, from the Greek word "xeros" meaning "dry", is the creation of a garden that uses less water than traditional landscaping. You can do this by choosing plants that are drought tolerant and by using techniques that use water efficiently. Taking these steps will reduce your outdoor water use by creating a colorful, natural, yard or garden that is easier and cheaper to maintain.

Seven Steps to a Water-Saving Garden

1. Planning & Design - Consider soil and light conditions, drainage, which existing plants you plan to keep, maintenance level desired, plant and color preferences and your budget.
   
   
2. Soil Improvements* - Mix compost or peat moss into the soil before planting to help the soil retain water. If your yard is sloped, reduce water run-off with terraces and retaining walls.
   
   
3. Minimize Lawn Areas - Limit the amount of area devoted to grass. Plant groundcovers or add hard surface areas like patios, decks or walkways. When replanting lawn areas, use drought tolerant grass seed mixes.
   
   
4. Plant Selection - Choose from among the many types of low-water-using trees, shrubs, flowers and groundcovers. Many need watering only in the first year after planting.
   
   
5. Efficient Irrigation - Install drip or trickle irrigation systems for those areas that need watering. These systems use water efficiently and are available from garden centers.
   
   
6. Effective Use of Mulches - Use mulches like pine needles, shredded bark, or leaves in a layer 3 inches deep. This keeps soil moist, smothers weeds and prevents erosion.
   
   
7. Regular Maintenance - Properly timed pruning, fertilizing. pest control and weeding will preserve your landscape's beauty and water efficiency.

*Compost is available from the Billerica Wastewater Facility. Please call 978-671-0956 for more information.

Five Steps to a Healthy Lawn

1. Healthy lawns don't need that much water. Watering too often keeps the grass from establishing deep roots. When you water , deep soak your lawn, allowing the moisture to reach the roots. Healthy roots are more water efficient and drought tolerant.
   
   
2. Mow your lawn at a minimum 3" height. This is the most important step to a healthy lawn. Keeping your grass a bit longer will allow it to develop a larger root system and will also shade out weed seedlings. Keep your mower blades sharpened to reduce damage.
   
   
3. Water before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m. After 8 a.m. heat steals moisture from your lawn through evaporation. Watering during the day can actually "scald" or "burn" your lawn when hot sunlight hits the water droplets. Water EARLY = LESS water used.
   
   
4. Leave grass clippings on the grass. Leaving clippings on the lawn has been proven to help your lawn. Nitrogen from the clippings is returned to the soil, nourishing your lawn.
   
   
5. Reduce the size of your lawn. Include shrubs, trees and wildflowers in your landscape. They don't require as much water or upkeep. Planting more trees provides more shade, keeping your lawn greener!

Create A Beautiful Butterfly Garden Using Drought Tolerant Plants!

Drought tolerant does not mean just Cacti!

Many plants zoned for New England and drought tolerant are colorful, lush and fragrant. Several even attract butterflies to your garden! See the list below for plants that will attract butterflies and even hummingbirds to your garden.

Butterfly Attracting Plants and Bushes:

• Buddleia - The rich blossoms of this extraordinary cultivar are attractive to butterflies, watch them flock all over the large spikes!
• Carpet of Snow - Alyssum Perfect for lining walkways or in window boxes.
• Coneflower - An exceptionally hardy perennial that is heat and drought tolerant.
• Coreopsis - Butterflies adore this versatile Tickseed cultivar, adaptable to most soil types.
• Delosperma - (Ice-Plant) Makes an excellent groundcover for dry locations.
• Four O'Clocks - Fragrant 2" trumpet shaped blooms come out in late afternoon, grows best in full sun.
• Gomphrena - Distinctly unique! Great for fresh and dried arrangements.
• Liatris - Excellent for cutting and for attracting butterflies. Loves the sun!
• Phlox - Butterflies will flock to this fragrant flower all summer long.
• Sedum - A carefree plant, it is very long-lived. Plant in full sun.
• Shasta Daisy - Hardy, long blooming if dead-headed, best in part-full sun.
• Sunflower - Easy, Annual, plant in sun.

Drought Resistant Plants (Common name - Latin Name):