Landscape And Design

The latest studies show that in the U.S. there are more than 30 million acres of lawn, making grass our #1 irrigated crop. In these days when conservation—of natural resources and your personal resources—is all the rage, now is a good time to consider some alternatives that will save time, money and energy. A landscape with a design for low maintenance can easily be yours. And it doesn’t have to come at the cost of a bland, boring yard. All it takes is some knowledge about the right plants and techniques.
“With a design for low maintenance, the goals are basically the same as for any other landscape design, except we focus on using materials that reduce the Big Four of ongoing maintenance: watering, trimming, weeding and mulching,” says Jeff Halper, landscape design specialist with Exterior Worlds.
Design for Low Maintenance: Actions and Choices
• Choose drought-resistant plants, like pampas grass, Plumbago, and Lantana. You might even choose older rose varieties, which are hardier than modern large-flowered hybrids.
• Avoid plants that need continuous pruning, like boxwood and dwarf yaupons (often used in hedges).
• Stay away from plants, such as azaleas, that are susceptible to diseases or insect problems.
• Mulching can be eliminated by using gravel, which rarely needs to be replaced.