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What is a Xeriscape?

Spanish Courtyard style Xeriscape in San Antonio Antique Rose Emporium.

A landscape is a Xeriscape if it needs little extra water or other assistance to look its best. Fortunately, many plants thrive in San Antonio with these low-care conditions. This leaves a wide range of landscape styles at your fingertips. San Antonio low-water landscapes are cool, inviting and lush. They burst with color during every season of the year!

The San Antonio Botanical Garden has a “Watersaver Lane” display where you can observe the many different Xeriscape style options possible. The model landscapes in place around tiny homes are: Wildscape, Manicured Xeriscape, Hill Country Landscape, Spanish Courtyard and Cottage Garden. One of these styles is bound to match your preferences and the architecture of your home.

How do I know if I have a Xeriscape?
Having a Xeriscape is both what you have in your landscape and how you take care of it. Review the seven steps of Xeriscape below to determine which ones you already have in place. It is fairly simple to replace some turfgrass, add mulch and learn to water efficiently. Check the resource section at the back of Landscape Care Guide for organizations that can help you learn how.

 

7 Xeriscaping Steps
1. Planning and Design Think about what your landscape will look like during each season of the year. Will there be something attractive to look at even during the winter months? How will you use that backyard? Will a hardscape patio area enhance your lifestyle? Perhaps an herb garden would be attractive and useful. Planning a landscape for maximum enjoyment means thinking about these questions and creating a plan to meet your needs. Discover how to use low-water flowers, plants and grasses in a variety of yards. Click here to learn more. 2. Soil Analysis & Improvement Know your soil before you plant. Having four to six inches of good soil is best, but may not be practical for the entire yard in certain parts our city. For instance, for those with very thin soil, sticking with native Hill Country plants is probably best. In areas well-amended with compost or areas with naturally deeper soils, some semi-tropical plants will do well. In any case, as a rule adding more organic material is better. 3. Plant Selection Pick a good shade tree or two. Enjoy some native plants or ones well-adapted to our area. Click here for a list of native water-saving plants.		4. Turfgrass Think about why you want some grass and where it will suit you best. Ideally no more than half of your landscape should be grass. Choose a grass type that is drought-tolerant. There are many attractive varieties available for our area that can survive dry periods when necessary. Having six inches of soil is particularly important for keeping any kind of grass healthy. 5. Efficient Irrigation A wellplanned Xeriscape will need little supplemental irrigation once it is established. If you decide to invest in an in-ground irrigation system, plan one that allows you to water in distinct plant zones. Shade areas need much less water than sunny ones. Grass and perennials should not be included in the same zones because their need is so different. Work closely with a licensed irrigator and ask many questions about how you can water only where and when needed. 6. Use of Mulches Laying down several inches of mulch in garden beds is an important investment. Mulch keeps plant roots cool during hot weather. It holds critical moisture. And, it helps control weeds that can take over gardens. 7. Appropriate Maintenance The San Antonio Landscape Care Guide will help you maintain your landscape.