XeriscapingXeriscaping™™ at Homeat Home

A Class Prepared for San A Class Prepared for San Juan College Juan College Encore Program Encore Program –– May 1, May 1, 20082008

Daniel Smeal M SDaniel Smeal M SDaniel Smeal, M.S.Daniel Smeal, M.S.College ProfessorCollege Professor

New Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State UniversityAgricultural Science CenterAgricultural Science Center

dsmeal@nmsu.edudsmeal@nmsu.edu@@

IntroductionIntroductionModule 1Module 1

What isWhat is XeriscapingXeriscaping??What is What is XeriscapingXeriscaping??

‘‘xerosxeros’’ from the Greek word for ‘dryfrom the Greek word for ‘dry’’xerosxeros –– from the Greek word for dryfrom the Greek word for dry

scapescape –– vista vista XeriscapeXeriscapeTMTM = = Trademark of Denver WaterTrademark of Denver Water

WaterWater efficient landscaping that’s appropriate to theefficient landscaping that’s appropriate to theWaterWater--efficient landscaping that s appropriate to the efficient landscaping that s appropriate to the natural environment. natural environment.

XeriscapingXeriscaping is not ‘is not ‘zero’scapingzero’scaping..XeriscapingXeriscaping is not is not zero scapingzero scaping..

Nor is it a Cactus GardenNor is it a Cactus GardenNor is it a Cactus GardenNor is it a Cactus Garden

NotNot a New Mexicoa New Mexico XeriscapeXeriscape™™NotNot a New Mexico a New Mexico XeriscapeXeriscape

Example Example of a northern of a northern New MexicoNew MexicoXeric Xeric Garden!Garden!

Here’s one at the Here’s one at the ASC FarmingtonASC Farmingtongg

XeriscapeXeriscape™™ ::Utilizes native plants or plants that are native to a Utilizes native plants or plants that are native to a similar similar environment. environment.

Requires minimal supplemental water or other Requires minimal supplemental water or other inputs inputs ((i.e. fertilizer, pesticides, maintenance, etci.e. fertilizer, pesticides, maintenance, etc.).)pp (( , p , ,, p , , ))

Is aesthetically pleasing and functionalIs aesthetically pleasing and functional::

Provides Provides color, pleasant odors, artistic interest, etc. color, pleasant odors, artistic interest, etc.

Provides Provides screen, windbreak, screen, windbreak, shadeshade

Provides Provides food (human and/or wildlifefood (human and/or wildlife))

•• Attracts hummingbirdsAttracts hummingbirds, , butterfliesbutterflies, birds, etc. , birds, etc.

Water Conservation?Water Conservation?Wh th ?Wh th ?Why the concern? Why the concern?

Decreasing (or unreliable) Decreasing (or unreliable) Water SuppliesWater SuppliesWater SuppliesWater Supplies

Severe drought can change water availability quickly!Severe drought can change water availability quickly!Severe drought can change water availability quickly! Severe drought can change water availability quickly!

Lake Mead - March 7 2000 elevation 370 mLake Mead March 7, 2000, elevation 370 m

Same view - April 11, 2002, elevation 356 m

Photos provided by Doug Bennett Photos provided by Doug Bennett -- SNWASNWA

Elephant Butte ReservoirElephant Butte ReservoirElephant Butte Reservoir Elephant Butte Reservoir (3/4/05)(3/4/05)

Navajo Lake Navajo Lake –– a few years agoa few years ago

Increasing Increasing Water DemandWater Demandc eas gc eas g a e e a da e e a d

NM Population FiguresNM Population FiguresNM Population FiguresNM Population Figures

City or StateCity or State PopulationPopulation % Increase% Increase19801980 2003200319801980 20032003

AlamogordoAlamogordo 24,02424,024 35,55135,551 48.048.0AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque 331,767331,767 471,856471,856 42.242.2q qq q ,, ,,FarmingtonFarmington 31,22231,222 41,42041,420 32.732.7Las CrucesLas Cruces 45,08645,086 76,99076,990 70.870.8Rio RanchoRio Rancho 9,9859,985 58,98158,981 490.7490.7RoswellRoswell 39,67639,676 44,22844,228 11.511.5Santa FeSanta Fe 48,95348,953 66,47666,476 35.835.8

StateState 1,302,8941,302,894 1,874,6141,874,614 43.943.9

Competing Competing Water User’s Water User’s inin the Four Cornersthe Four Cornersin in the Four Cornersthe Four Corners

AgricultureAgriculture

EnergyEnergy

Endangered Endangered SpeciesSpecies

RecreationRecreationRecreationRecreation

MunicipalitiesMunicipalitiesMunicipalitiesMunicipalities

Aztec, Bloomfield, FarmingtonAztec, Bloomfield, Farmington, , Flora Vista, Flora Vista, Kirtland, Kirtland, ShiprockShiprock, etc. , etc.

Albuquerque Albuquerque ((viavia the Santhe San Juan Chama DiversionJuan Chama Diversion))((via via the San the San Juan Chama DiversionJuan Chama Diversion))

Gallup and Navajo Nation Gallup and Navajo Nation (( i N j /G ll i li )i N j /G ll i li )((via Navajo/Gallup pipeline)via Navajo/Gallup pipeline)

Increasing CostsIncreasing Costsgg

Farmington Water CostsFarmington Water CostsFarmington Water CostsFarmington Water CostsMonthly Water Rate Schedule (Cost per 1000 Monthly Water Rate Schedule (Cost per 1000 o y a e a e Sc edu e (Cos pe 000o y a e a e Sc edu e (Cos pe 000

gallons)gallons)Single Family ResidenceSingle Family Residenceg yg y

Monthly UsageMonthly Usage(gallons)(gallons)

20082008 20092009 20102010 20112011(g )(g )0 to 70000 to 7000 1.541.54 1.711.71 1.891.89 2.092.09

7000 to 20,0007000 to 20,000 1.931.93 2.142.14 2.362.36 2.612.61

20,000 to 40,00020,000 to 40,000 2.412.41 2.672.67 2.952.95 3.263.26

> 40 000> 40 000 3 623 62 4 014 01 4 434 43 4 904 90> 40,000> 40,000 3.623.62 4.014.01 4.434.43 4.904.90

WaterWater Use and Cost ComparisonUse and Cost ComparisonWaterWater--Use and Cost ComparisonUse and Cost ComparisonXeriscapeXeriscape™ ™ vs. Cool Season Turf* vs. Cool Season Turf* ppper 1000 per 1000 sq ft area (20 x 50) in 2010sq ft area (20 x 50) in 2010

Cool Season Cool Season TurfgrassTurfgrass (i.e. K. bluegrass, fescue)(i.e. K. bluegrass, fescue)35 to 40 inches per year = 22 to 25 gals. per sq. 35 to 40 inches per year = 22 to 25 gals. per sq. footfoot****22 000 2 000 ll @ $22 000 2 000 ll @ $2 9 /10002 9 /1000 $6$6 $ /$ /= 22,000 to 25,000 gallons @ $= 22,000 to 25,000 gallons @ $2.95/1000 2.95/1000 = $65 = $65 -- $75/mo$75/mo..

XeriscapeXeriscape (50, 3(50, 3--ft diameter plants per 1000 sq ft)ft diameter plants per 1000 sq ft)70 gallons per plant = 3 500 gallons @ $70 gallons per plant = 3 500 gallons @ $1 89/10001 89/100070 gallons per plant = 3,500 gallons @ $70 gallons per plant = 3,500 gallons @ $1.89/1000 1.89/1000 = = less than $less than $7/mo.7/mo.

****Based on research conducted at the NMSU ASC Farmington, Based on research conducted at the NMSU ASC Farmington, NMNM

****It takes 0.62 gallons of water to cover a 1 sq. ft. area to a depth of It takes 0.62 gallons of water to cover a 1 sq. ft. area to a depth of 11 inchinch1 1 inch.inch.

OtherOther XeriscapeXeriscape™™ BenefitsBenefitsOther Other XeriscapeXeriscape Benefits Benefits (compared to (compared to turf or exotic plants)turf or exotic plants)

Lower maintenance costsLower maintenance costs..

E h d l t t lE h d l t t lEnhanced real estate valueEnhanced real estate value..

Useful products (edible, decorative, medicinal, etc.).Useful products (edible, decorative, medicinal, etc.).

Increased Increased survivability (less disease, drought stress).survivability (less disease, drought stress).

R d dR d d f t lf t l d t f tilid t f tili ddReduced Reduced use of petroleum use of petroleum products, fertilizers, products, fertilizers, and and toxic chemicalstoxic chemicals..E h d b ildlifE h d b ildlif h bi (bi d b fli )h bi (bi d b fli )Enhanced urban wildlife Enhanced urban wildlife habitat (birds, butterflies, etc.).habitat (birds, butterflies, etc.).YearYear--round visual round visual interest (flowers and wildlife). interest (flowers and wildlife). Improved environment (i.e. no mower exhaust).Improved environment (i.e. no mower exhaust).

Principles of Principles of XeriscapeXeriscape™™

7 Principles of 7 Principles of XeriscapeXeriscape™™

Plan and Plan and designdesignI il ithI il ith d td tImprove soil with Improve soil with amendmentsamendmentsReduce lawn Reduce lawn areasareasUse Use plants appropriate for the conditions and plants appropriate for the conditions and group group according to water and environmental according to water and environmental needsneedsIrrigate Irrigate efficientlyefficientlyUse appropriate Use appropriate mulchmulchMaintain your landscapeMaintain your landscapeMaintain your landscapeMaintain your landscape

My OpinionMy OpinionMy OpinionMy Opinion

The The most important human quality or virtue most important human quality or virtue involved in establishing ainvolved in establishing a XeriscapeXeriscape™™ ::involved in establishing a involved in establishing a XeriscapeXeriscape : :

End of Module 1End of Module 1

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION