What Are the Most Common Errors to Avoid When Xeriscaping?

Opting for xeriscape landscaping to save on water can be quite ambitious, and it’s very simple to make mistakes while you’re at it, even if you’re doing it yourself. Get it wrong and you’ll waste water and fail to achieve the lawn of your dreams.

But it could mean that if something goes wrong, not only will you be left feeling more than a little underwhelmed by your brand-new makeover – but you’re also likely to be left out of pocket when it comes to rectifying things.

From failing to properly plan your new xeriscape design to the wrong landscaping materials, plants or irrigation system, little things go a long way, and in the worst-case scenario, will take away from your enjoyment of your new outdoor space. It’s hardly the look you had in mind.

These xeriscaping mistakes are understandable, but preventable with our xeriscaping guide. Here, experts offer guidance on how to be water-wise but still make a beautiful outdoor space.

The most common xeriscaping mistakes

Mistakes in xeriscaping can include smaller hiccups that can be easily fixed or bigger problems, such as deciding the wrong types of landscaping material to use, or flowers and plants to plant, which can be difficult to correct once your other work is done.

The sure-fire way to ensure that you do not screw up is to take our expert advice to ensure that your xeriscaping project gets off to the best possible start and is carried through to a successful completion.

Rushing the design and not getting the aesthetics right

From poppies to pansies, your garden design is a big decision!

Doesn’t matter if you’re looking to redesign an existent landscape, come up with a new design or just want to cultivate your sustainable garden ideas, you are going to need to get a strong plan in place.

This is something you can figure out for yourself, but you may find it helpful to get the opinion of a landscape specialist. Otherwise, you could easily fall in love with a “sexy” design, one of the most frequent mistakes in xeriscaping we see.

And yet, many first-time xeriscapers take a stark approach: rip all greenery to nothing, spread some decomposed granite, plant a cactus or two and call it good. Instead, consider places like the Sonoran Desert for inspiration. Despite its desert reputation, the desert is filled with pause-worthy views, people, and unique plants that make it a splashy landscape.

One of the important things to keep in mind when thinking of drought-tolerant landscaping ideas is that even though you’ve mostly taken out the heavy water users, such as lawns and water-rationed plants, doesn’t mean that your xeriscape has to resemble a barren desert.

Favoring drought-resistant plants over native ones

There is an important move now to planting native plants to help biodiversity, and the insects and birds native to the area.

But perhaps the biggest mistake of all with xeriscaping is its tendency to help homeowners focus upon water conservation and make a beeline for those drought-resistant plants rather than those neighborhood natives. While this low water use, it’s not friendly to the biodiverse ecology of the region.

Xeriscaping, as the idea goes, is all about cutting down your water usage by eliminating plants that need an extensive diet of water, via manual labor.

To replace these thirsty plants with drought-tolerant ones is easily done, but that also requires some investigation and design knowledge to ensure that plants are native or familiar to your particular area.

Native plants establish more robust ecologies and biodiversity as they draw pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and they are more likely to do well. Some introduced species may become invasive and some just won’t thrive in your local climate and soil, so you’ll need to keep at it if you want to keep them alive.

A native-plant yard can be so pretty. “The secret to not having a dry, drab garden is to find natives in a variety of heights, spreads, fullness, textures, colors and blooming seasons. You can contrast your plantings with hardscape materials such as rocks, gravel paths or decorative stones to create visual interest and contrast in your landscape.

Replacing all the soil with gravel

One of the xeriscaping mistakes that people frequently make is to think that to get that landscaping sense of a dry garden look, you have to strip all of the topsoil off and replace it with layers of materials such as gravel and crushed stone chippings. Although many plants do well in such condition’s others would sulk if planted in gravel rather than rich, organic topsoil.

In fact, poor soil prep is a major xeriscaping mistake people commit. Don’t just assume that because xeriscaping plants are drought-tolerant that they can also grow in poor soil.

It’s a good idea (before you plant) to have the soil in your yard tested to discover its pH level, so you’ll know how acidic or alkaline it is. Soil tests kits can be purchased at Walmart.

Second, know what type of soil you have in your yard. Some soil will need to be amended to some level of degree, depending on the plants you select for your landscape. Amendment is the enrichment of your soil with things like mulch or compost.

Losing the lush foliage for too many waxy, spiny types

Plants used in a xeriscaped area are often rugged species that have evolved to thrive in hot, dry climates.

It is no wonder that many xerophyte plants adapt by having spines instead of leaves (cacti use less water in this way), or by having a thick cuticle (some succulents have a thick waxy cuticle which is good for minimizing water loss through transpiration), or silver foliage plants, or small leaves (creeping sedum can use less water for this reason because less water evaporates from it since its surface area is minimized).

But the harsher landscape that follows wholehearted commitment to this style of planting will in fact rob your garden of all its glorious leafy specimens, and consequently, make it feel less of a quiet refuge. Definitely include species such as Euphorbia, Bougainvillea (with the added benefit of blooms too!), sago and Bismark palms in your yard, too.

Before replanting, the first consideration should be rainfall and temperature, as well as light and your soil condition, in order to determine the full extent of plants that will flourish. It’s not necessary that your xeric landscape be a one-time job. Instead, try planting and making adjustments in stages to see what that look is like. Whenever you can, maintain native plants that are already thriving in your yard.

Creating a landscape that means more maintenance for you

But for many, the general attitude is removing your turf is going to change your life, and its going to cut back on the hours you spent on yardwork. But then remember your lawn will be replaced with plants and landscaping that will also require maintenance.

Although xeriscapes are low maintenance, it’s worth noting that they are not no maintenance. A xeriscaped yard is generally a relatively low-maintenance option, but it will require weeding, mulching, watering and periodic pruning.

When you allow yourself to let the imagination to run free on ways to design a drought-resistant yard, and in the mix, include no grass front yard ideas, it is a whole new world of cool design and plantings that are not only sustainable, will look fantastic and will minimize your water consumption.

Failing to use mulching materials

Another one of the top dry-climate xeriscaping mistakes not using mulch such as shredded bark, pine needles, gravel and stones not using to mulching materials are used.

Mulch is a planet-friendly product that also helps to conserve moisture in soil that benefits planting, save water and slow soil erosion.

A xeriscape is a stunning garden of plants that has low to moderately low water needs and that are indigenus or naturalized to the conditions in which they are growing.

Mulches, organic (straw) or inorganic (gravel), are added to the area around the garden to decrease the rate of water loss. Therefore, xeriscapes not only conserve water, but require less maintenance and are also drought resistant gardening.

Misunderstanding your yard’s water requirements

The big idea behind xeriscapes is to minimize water waste in your landscape and your lawn, without requiring added irrigation —or a sprinkler system, micro or otherwise; to use less water than the natural climate provides.

That’s cutting water waste in your yard. But when selecting plants for your xeriscape it’s still a good idea to be aware of their differing watering needs and make a plan to irrigate the whole scheme when you have to, not just bits of it.

Even drought-resistant plants require some water, especially when they are first planted. Avoid overwatering, but don’t ignore water either. We strongly recommend a drip system, which can be established for much less money up front than a sprinkler system.

In drip irrigation and soaker hoses, the droplets of water are emitted down low where the plant needs it, not in a mist from a spray attachment.

The slowly apply to or beneath the surface of the soil water, which minimizes loss from runoff or evaporation. They install and can be changed easily, and you can expand the system when adding new plants. They’re easy to find at garden centers.

You might also want to cluster plants with similar water requirements. For instance, simply put water-thrifty plants with water hogs, but don’t overwater xerophytes