A Beginner's Guide to Planting a Low Water Street Garden

How Careful Panning Can Reduce Your Water Consumption in the Yard

Water conservation is a subject that has many people talking. As our population grows, our natural water resources are feeling the strain. Certain parts of the country, especially in the south west, are already feeling the impact of limited water resources.

Low water gardening is an alternative way of gardening that reduces water use. Low water gardening, also called Xeriscape landscaping, doesn't mean ripping out your lawn and replacing it with gravel and cactus. Instead, it refers to applying low water principles in your landscape plan. To lower your water use, choosing low water plants, using wood chips in your beds to reduce evaporation, adding compost to your soil to improve water capacity, and using sensible watering practices.

A great place to plant a low water garden are along sidewalks or in the public areas, called "parkways". These are the patches of ground located between the sidewalk and curb in front of your home. The intense heat these areas receive from the asphalt are perfect locations for a low water and heat tolerant garden.

Preparing the soil

The first step is preparing the space, and getting rid of existing grass and weeds. An organic approach, is covering the spot with black visquine and let the vegetation die on it's own. A non-organic method is spraying the area with Round-Up. Be sure you follow the instructions for application.