With water scarcity a growing concern across the nation, it’s more important than ever to design landscapes that conserve our planet’s most precious resource. Fortunately, there are clever strategies to create a beautiful and sustainable landscape that will help minimize your impact. From selecting native plants that require less water to incorporating rainwater harvesting systems, here are six tips from Green America Tree & Landscaping for designing a green, low-water landscape.

1. Choose Native Plants
2. Group Plants By Water Needs
3. Maintain Healthy Soil
4. Install Water-Efficient Irrigation
5. Try Rainwater Harvesting
6. Consider Xeriscaping

1 – Choose Native Plants

One of the easiest and most powerful ways of conserving water is by simply reducing the total area of turfgrass in favor of more drought-tolerant plants. Consider swapping out your grass lawn for succulents, cacti, sagebrush, and other plants endemic to the desert. Since these plants are already adapted to survive in the wild with minimal rainfall, they will require significantly less water in your garden.

2 – Group Plants By Water Needs

Cluster plants with similar irrigation needs together to avoid overwatering or underwatering. By placing cacti next to cacti, bushes next to bushes, and flowers next to other flowers, you can ensure that every plant in your garden gets the precise amount of water it needs.

3 – Maintain Healthy Soil

Soil composition affects its ability to retain water, and healthier soil can absorb and retain more moisture. Incorporate organic matter, such as compost and mulch, to improve the ability to hold moisture and reduce the amount lost to evaporation and weed growth. This is especially important in the desert, where the ground naturally contains a high proportion of clay—which is susceptible to both evaporation and flash flooding.

4 – Install Water-Efficient Irrigation

One of the best ways of reducing water waste is to install an efficient and eco-friendly irrigation system that delivers life-giving liquid directly to the plants’ roots. An automated system also makes it easier to ensure that you’re only watering during the designated times outlined by the local water authorities.

5 – Try Rainwater Harvesting

If you want to lower your water bills via a more natural method, consider capturing rainwater in a storage tank for future irrigation. Ensure you’ve read up on all relevant local laws before attempting this, as some states require a water rights grant or have other rainwater restrictions.

6 – Consider Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping is a technique that focuses on designing a garden or landscape that requires minimal irrigation by choosing desert plants and incorporating rocks, pebbles, or sand into your yard design. In addition to saving water, xeriscaping can reduce the need for fertilizers, weed killers, and pesticides, creating a more sustainable, natural, and eco-friendly landscape. Plus, it may help preserve or increase local biodiversity—especially if you opt for native plants.

Water-Smart Landscaping At Your Doorstep

By using these clever techniques, homeowners and businesses can reduce their water bills and help conserve natural resources. At Green America Tree & Landscaping, our skilled landscapers are experts in xeriscaping, hardscaping, and other desert-friendly gardening techniques. Contact us today to learn more about our residential and commercial services in the Las Vegas Valley.