It’s getting drier out there, and that’s bad news for your plump, fluffy hydrangea.
Maybe you’ve noticed your water-loving shrubs are wilting more than usual.
It might be time to re-think your landscaping, as climate change is creating a hotter, drier Idaho.
What are examples of drought-tolerant landscaping?
Xeriscaping, which involves using drought-tolerant plants and landscape boulders and rocks to conserve water. The use of more hardscape instead of lawn. Transitioning water-hogging lawns to prairie-style meadows that use less water. Using water-saving strategies like drip irrigation and rainwater capture.
Keep reading to learn more about drought-tolerant landscaping ideas.
It does.
Idaho’s climate is changing, becoming hotter and drier.
Over the past century, most of the state has warmed one to two degrees Fahrenheit, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Snowpack is melting earlier in the year, and the flow of that water into streams during summer is declining. In the coming decades, streams will be warmer, wildfires may become more common, deserts may expand, and water may become less available for irrigation, according to the EPA.
That means more Boise and Idaho Falls residents are interested in drought-tolerant landscaping ideas, says Kirk Jeppesen, a landscape designer at Outback Landscape.
Groundwater levels in this area have been declining for decades, raising concerns about water availability. As cities like Boise and Idaho Falls prioritize wise use of water, smart landscaping strategies fit right in, he says.
What is a type of landscape that needs very little water?
This low-water landscape design is gaining popularity as climate change causes more Idaho municipalities and homeowners to reduce water use.
How does xeriscaping for hot weather save water? A few key ways:
While Jeppesen is a big fan of well-designed xeriscaping, he notes a couple downsides:
Your yard will become less usable for certain activities, such as lawn games or lunch picnics on the soft grass.
Xeriscaping might be more expensive than you think. Big landscaping boulders, decorative rocks and drought-tolerant plants add up to as much up-front cost as traditional landscaping, Jeppesen says.
Without skilled design, xeriscape can look barren and unappealing. Don’t skip professional design help, which includes pro attention to important drainage issues.
Your lawn takes a beating during hot, dry weather. But there are ways to cope.
No need. Yes, some varieties of grass are more drought-tolerant than others. However, chances are that your lawn will do just fine.
Here in Idaho, Kentucky Bluegrass is a homeowner favorite, and it can thrive in our summer weather if it's properly maintained. It has good drought tolerance and, once established, can easily repair itself from damage.
If your sprinkler system has been in place for a while, it likely has outdated sprayer heads or an old controller that’s wasting water. During drought, that’s especially wasteful.
Older irrigation systems lack many of the advanced water-saving features available today.
How can you update your landscape design for drought tolerance?
Have your existing irrigation heads retrofitted with high-efficiency MP rotator nozzles. They emit several rotating streams of water at a low application rate, which uses less water and ensures your landscape receives only the amount of water it needs to thrive. They also spray water in larger droplets, not a light mist. The big drops fall faster, ending up on your thirsty lawn instead of blowing away in the breeze.
Add a weather sensor that gathers daily local weather data and works with your smart irrigation controller to control your watering schedule based on the current weather conditions. Your lawn will get the right amount of water, without waste.
Yes, a healthy green lawn is a beautiful thing. But a brown, struggling, water-starved lawn? Not so much.
More homeowners looking for landscape design and installation in Idaho Falls are considering other options. Like what?
Drought-resistant ground covers and native plants.
A pretty meadow landscape of wild flowers.
More hardscape. A larger patio offers more space for easy entertaining and additional fun features, such as a fire pit, outdoor pizza oven, or a serene yoga space.
Want free water for your landscaping? Look up. Why let rainwater go to waste?
Add rain barrels at the bottom of your gutter downspouts to collect that valuable water that streams off your roof.
Outback pros can also install a rain capture system for you, even incorporating it into your irrigation system. Free water, coming right up. Or, down.
No big science lesson here, just the fact that dripping uses less water than spraying.
Just as it sounds, this type of irrigation system slowly drips water onto the roots of your plants from holes in tubing, which is either installed below ground or on the soil surface.
Instead of spraying large areas like sprinkler heads do, drip irrigation puts that precious water right at the roots of your plants, where it’s needed.
This type of irrigation doesn’t work for lawns, but it’s great for your planting beds. And if you already have irrigation heads in your plant beds, no worries. Outback irrigation professionals can help you transition to drip irrigation for water-wise landscaping.
Some Idaho plants thrive in dry conditions better than others. If you haven’t thought much about Idaho native plants, now is a great time.
Not only are native plants hardy and less susceptible to pests and diseases, they need considerably less water than non-natives. They’ve lived here all along, so they’re used to the weather conditions and adapting to change. Once they’re settled in, they can typically get the water they need from rainfall.
Plant selection is a crucial aspect of drought-tolerant landscape design. Yes, big, bountiful, fluffy hydrangeas are amazing, but they’re real water hogs.
Meanwhile, there’s a huge list of Idaho native plants to add beauty to your yard while still conserving water, from Rocky Mountain ash, with its bright orange-red fruit that attracts birds to creeping Oregon grape, which sports evergreen, holly-like leaves, clusters of bright yellow flowers in spring, and waxy blue berries in summer.
Here at Outback, we love ornamental grasses, which are great low-water plants.
But drought-tolerant landscaping isn’t just about what plants you use. It’s also about how and where you plant them.
Don’t mix plants with different water needs, advises Outback landscape designer Kim Rubert. She clusters drought-tolerant plants together so they can share the same watering needs. Same thing with sun and shade. Pay attention to the plant’s needs listed on their tags and plant accordingly as part of your drought-tolerant landscape design.
Also, you don’t need a lush and luxurious plant-packed garden for appealing landscaping, Rubert says. A few dramatic, low-maintenance plants can make a stunning impact.
Sure, a nice layer of shredded bark mulch look great topping off your planting beds, but remember it has a couple other super powers, too.
Mulch holds in that valuable water and keeps it from evaporating. It also maintains a cool and even soil temperature.
The best water-wise landscaping mulch is bark mulch, not rock. It retains moisture better than any other type of mulch and also breaks down over time, adding beneficial nutrients to your soil.
Healthier soil hangs on to water longer.
Here at Outback Landscape, we’re experts in drought-tolerant landscaping ideas to keep your landscaping thriving when water is scarce.
Learn what plants will look great in your landscape without needing a lot of water. Get set up with high-quality bark mulch that will keep the moisture in your planting beds. Let us conduct an irrigation audit to identify areas for improvement in your water conservation.
Outback Landscape is a full-service landscaping company offering landscape design and installation in Boise and Idaho Falls. We install beautiful, functional landscapes and stay with you for the long haul, taking care of your property through all four seasons.
We serve residential and commercial properties in Idaho Falls, Rexburg, and Pocatello, Idaho, as well as the counties of Bonneville, Madison, and Bannock. Call us at 208-656-3220 or schedule a no-obligation meeting with one of our team members.