By Kelly Weston, Native Landscapes, a printable PDF version is available here.

The seven principles of Xeriscape

7. Appropriate Maintenance
Preserve the beauty of your Xeriscape with regular maintenance. The first year or two, your new landscape will probably require a fair amount of weeding, but as plants mature they will crowd out the weeds, significantly reducing your maintenance time. In addition to weeding, your Xeriscape will need proper irrigation, pruning, fertilizing and pest control. Maintenance time for a new garden is similar to a traditional landscape but it decreases over time. In addition to weeding, proper irrigation, pruning, fertilizing and pest control will keep your landscape beautiful and water thrifty. When your garden is well taken care of, you can sit back and enjoy.

Some tips to help your landscape flourish with routine and proper
maintenance:

• It is important to keep irrigation systems running properly. Ask your landscaper to assess your irrigation for needed improvements.
• Change the timers on your sprinklers as the season changes and when plants become more established.
• Prune and fertilize when needed. Research what your plants require first.
• Weed
• Plant in the spring and fall.
• Be sure to keep your lawn at least 2-3” tall. A longer cut promotes deep roots and a living mulch, ultimately requiring less water use. Leave your clippings on the lawn. This will help to improve soil structure, fertility, and water retention.