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Explore the information and links on this page to learn how to reduce the water needs and environmental impact of your landscaping.

What does "conservation landscaping" mean?
The term often associated with conservation landscapes is XERSICAPING. Literally, xeriscape means "dry landscape", but that doesn't have to mean cactus and gravel. A xeriscape is one that is designed, installed, and maintained in harmony with the existing climate, microclimate, and site conditions, thus minimizing the need for supplemental resources like water, fertilizer, and your time and money.

How do I do it?
A great place to start is to find out a little about the principles of XERISCAPING. Xeriscaping breaks the concept of conservation landscaping into seven basic principles. Landscape professionals can help you implement each principle, but we think you'll find that it's really not that hard.

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Conservation Landscaping Breakdown:
Here are the seven ideas behind conservation landscaping. Follow the links for detailed information about each step, and local resources to help you understand what to do.

	Principle	What it means
	Planning and Design	Examine the conditions present on the site, and arrange plants in a manner that takes advantage of those conditions. Think about the water, wind, sunlight, slope, and soil characteristics of all planting areas in your landscape. It usually hlps to sketch out a diagram and draw in which plants will go in what spots.
	Plant Selection	select plants that are properly suited for the conditions in their planting location
	Limit Turf	A turf lawn as we know it is one of the most environmentally-insensitive landscape treatments available. Think about turning the unused portions of your lawn into colorful flower beds that never have to be mowed. And where you do have lawn, be sure to plant the right type of grass, and maintain it properly to ensure it doesn't need extra water to saty healthy.
	Soil	Landscape experts agree- any landscape is only as good as the soil it is planted in. Keep in mind that your plants get everything they need, except sunlight, from the soil. Get your soil tested every few years, and aerate, fertilize, or amend as needed.
	Efficient Irrigation	Growing plants need water, so when irrigation is necessary some ways are more efficient with water than others. For instance, any water that falls on your driveway or sidewalk is wasted. Also, when water is released at the soil surface there is less opprurtunity for evaporation and overspray.
	Mulch - Use it!	The benefits of mulching your plantings are numerous. Mulch can insulate plant roots from excessive heat and cold, regulate the infiltration of rainwater, and limit weed growth. Then, when it decomposes, it adds valuable organic matter tot he soil.
	Maintain the Landscape	A landscape that receives regular attention to it's needs is a healthy landscape that needs less. Pruning, maintaining the mulch layer, weeding, and controlling pests are easy tasks, and keep your plants healthy with less water and less of your time.