This emerging landscaping trend is the ultimate lazy hack for a stunning garden
Is xeriscaping the key to a beautiful garden without the effort?
Gardens can be intimidating spaces to keep looking neat and tidy, however, there is a new emerging trend that promises a beautiful display with minimal maintenance - xeriscaping.
The garden trend is already making waves in America, however, according to horticulturist Michael Perry it is the perfect solution to front garden embarrassment.
Speaking as part of the Green with Envy campaign with Taskrabbit, Michael Perry, also known a The Plant Geek on Instagram, revealed one in five households say they feel embarrassed that their garden doesn’t live up to their neighbour’s standards. Another 52 percent say they don’t do enough in their garden. That is where the xeriscaping trend comes in.
'There is a trend in the US that is xeriscaping and this is really for use with plants that are drought tolerant,' Michael explains. 'It uses mulch to cover the ground, and uses a lot of drought tolerant plants to reduce the need for watering in the front garden, it makes a great display with minimum maintenance.'
What is xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping reduces the need to water plants, making it not only low-maintenance, but also eco-friendly. It was originally embraced in dry regions in the western United States like Colorado, however, has gained in popularity due to it being easy and affordable to maintain.
It involves replacing thirsty lawns with drought-tolerant plants, soil, rocks and mulch. Ornamental grasses are the best example of drought-tolerant plants that will thrive in the UK, but daffodils are also good additions for a pop of seasonal colour.
While a drought-tolerant planting scheme might sound ideal after the blistering week we've had, as we all know the UK isn't always short on rainy weather. However, Michael explains that British downpours shouldn't be an issue.
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'These type of plants, they benefit when they have more water,' explains Michael. 'They're going to grow quicker and be slightly bigger. But they will also be able to withstand drought conditions.'
So really this garden landscaping idea is a win-win, whatever the weather. However it is important to make sure they are planted in free-draining soil to avoid plants becoming waterlogged.
If you're keen to test out this easy garden idea Michael suggests investing in colourful sedum. 'Verbena is a very popular one, ornamental grasses are also very useful in these xeriscapes,' he adds.
These low maintenance plants are a lovely addition to patio ideas. Block plant your drought-tolerant plants together for a pretty prairie vibe.
Alternatively use the trend as a low maintenance solution to create a pretty border around a lawn.
Rebecca Knight has been the Deputy Editor on the Ideal Home Website since 2022. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She fell into the world of homes and interiors after joining the Ideal Home website team in 2019 as a Digital Writer. In 2020 she moved into position of Homes News Editor working across Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc and Ideal Home covering everything from the latest viral cleaning hack to the next big interior trend.
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