Florida Xeriscaping: Drought-Resistant Landscaping for Sustainable Beauty

Welcome to the world of xeriscaping, where beautiful, sustainable landscapes are a reality. Florida's unpredictable weather can cause problems for homeowners who want their yards to look gorgeous during drought conditions and heavy rainfall alike. A combination of xeriscaping with other types of landscaping, such as rain gardens, could be the ideal solution. A xeriscaped garden combines drought-resistant plants with efficient water use and creative design elements, resulting in a harmonious arrangement that can be much more suited to a subtropical climate than traditional landscaping.

Xeriscaping Principles

The main principle of xeriscaping is to create a beautiful, functional landscape with minimal need for irrigation. This is done by selecting drought-tolerant native plants. In some cases, non-native plants with minimal water requirements can also be part of a xeriscaped landscape. The focus is on conserving natural resources and creating a gorgeous garden that minimizes water loss and can survive dry conditions with little or no supplemental water.

Wondering what steps to take? Here are our suggestions for how to create a beautiful xeriscaped yard.

1. Plan Thoughtfully

Xeriscaping can give you a beautiful, waste-efficient landscape with minimal maintenance requirements. But it's important to plan carefully before you begin.  Whether you're thinking about plant selection or water conservation, consider your outdoor space carefully. Sunlight and shade, soil conditions and existing landscape features will all affect your xeriscaping journey.

Consider using different landscaping methods in different parts of your yard. For example, the water efficiency of xeriscaping can be combined very effectively with a rain garden, allowing your landscape to deal with excess stormwater as necessary but maintain itself with minimal water consumption during dry periods.

2. Zone your Plants

IFAS, in its Florida-Friendly Landscaping scheme, suggests zoning plants in groups by water requirements. If all your drought-resistant plants are in one area, with water-loving plants in a different zone, you can reduce water consumption by targeting irrigation to the areas where it is needed.

3. Use Mulch!

Mulch is an important feature of xeriscaping. It helps to create a water-efficient landscape by reducing evaporation. Organic mulch is a great replacement for turf or other ground cover plants in areas that see a lot of sun. It keeps things looking neat while also increasing soil moisture for plants in the same area. Mulch even suppresses weed growth, helping to maintain a tidy, appealing landscape

4. Include Drought-Tolerant Turf

Not all turfgrass is equal. If you go for a drought-tolerant turf that is suited to the soil type in your yard, you're likely to see a decrease in water usage and even in water bills.

Some drought-tolerant turf options include:

• Bermudagrass
• Zoysiagrass
• Bahiagrass

5. Choose Drought-Tolerant Native Plants

Much of the natural beauty of your xeriscaped yard will come from drought-tolerant plants that are comfortable in Florida's hot climate and sometimes dry conditions.

Here are some suggestions for native Florida plants that don't require frequent watering to consider for your xeriscaped yard:

• Agave - a highly drought-tolerant plant that grows well in Zones 9-11. There are over 200 species of agave plant to choose from! Requires at least six hours of direct sunlight per day and needs well-drained soil

• Firewheel - also known as Indian blanket, this is a striking flowering annual with a bold color combination. The center of each flower is bright red and the tips of the petals are yellow. Likes full sun to partial shade and well-drained, sandy soil.

• Beach Sunflower - a native plant that grows well in most areas of Florida, showing off its bright yellow flowers almost all year round. Requires plenty of sun and well-drained, sandy soil.

• Railroad Vine - a variety of morning glory with beautiful pink blooms that appear from spring through fall. Spreads quickly. Prefers sandy soil.

• Muhly Grass - an ornamental grass with striking, fluffy pink flower stems. Does best in full sun. Prefers well-drained, rocky or sandy soil.

Landscaping Design Professionals

If you want to create a xeriscaped paradise full of Florida-friendly plants but don't know where to begin, it might be time to contact a landscaping professional. A designer can help you make landscaping choices or even plan out a beautiful landscape on your behalf. Some companies, such as LawnMore Gainesville, offer both landscaping and installation services to help you bring your ideas to life and create your own backyard haven. Don't hesitate to get in touch today for more information!