Creating Sustainable Garden Designs Requiring Little or No Water

Photo Credit: mormones.org via Compfight ccHaving been part of a few rain showers this week, it has sparked my green thumb but we are not in the clear yet in regards to the drought and saving water is always important.  It is such an amazing resource.  Modernize.com shares how we can create sustainable gardens designs.  Enjoy and share any sustainable garden tips that you might have in the comments below.  -Jennifer Creating Sustainable Garden Designs Requiring Little or No WaterAn effective and convenient way to reduce your property’s carbon footprint on the earth is to create a sustainable garden design that requires little to no water for optimal growth throughout the year. There isn’t a need to settle for a desert landscape in order to keep water use low—you can take advantage of lush green foliage and gorgeous garden colors all year long with the right planning and design implementation—Modernize suggests implementing the following tips and tricks for creating an inspiringly sustainable garden for your yard: Via ModernizeGo NativeNative plants are the most adapted to your specific climate, which makes them less prone to damage and death due to extreme weather conditions that may occur throughout the year. Include a variety of native plants into your overall garden design to dramatically decrease both soil and water needs while maintaining optimal growth. Some awesome options for the Berkeley and surrounding areas include:

• Succulents – desert agave, ragwort, arrowhead butterweed, sierra stonecrop, and groundsel
• Groundcovers – golden currant, coyote bush, sorrel, southern huckleberry, and bearclover
• Vines – wild cucumber, Virginia creeper, orange honeysuckle, and island morning glory

Some native plant options that are specifically drought tolerant include redbud, California fuchsia, white sage, desert lavender, and California goldenrod.Implement a Mulch PlanTo aid your plants in retaining their water resources so you don’t have to water them yourself, implement a plan to add fresh mulch to your gardens once every two or three months. Mulch locks in moisture so your plants can gain access to drinking water from mist dew, and condensation that is absorbed by the mulch on a daily basis. Mulch also happens to reduce the growth of weeds to make gardening and landscaping an easier task overall.You’ll find a wide variety of mulch option bases to work with such as gravel, shredded bark, pumice, pine straw, macadamia nut hulls, and even kitchen compost. When it comes time to add new mulch to your gardens, just use your hand to generously sprinkle the mulch over the soil in your garden beds and pots.Implement Air PlantsAir plants are those classified as epiphytic and require no soil to grow. Air plants come in a wide range of sizes and styles, and instead of being grown in soiled gardens, they tend to flourish above ground by using other objects or plants for support. They get their water from the air, making them virtually maintenance-free plant options that flourish in both indoor and outdoor gardens. Consider introducing the following interesting options to your sustainable garden design:

• Aechmea – These plants get nutrients through their leaves and grow vibrantly colored flowers of medium size.
• Spanish Moss – This moss can hang from tree branches and produces small flowers for some extra color in the garden.
• Orchids – Obtainable in more than 20,000 species, orchids can be grown in rock gardens, on trees, and on fences.

Combine these air plant varieties in your garden for year-round exposure to flowers of various sizes, colors, and textures. Via the American Orchid SocietyWith the help of these tips and tricks, you can expect to enjoy a year-round garden that is easy to care for and that will surely impress barbecue guests when entertaining in the yard.