Do you drive around looking at beautiful yards, lamenting that yours won't look the same because it is too dry? Well, here's some good news: you're wrong! Dry yards are definitely harder to landscape and maintain, but it is entirely possible to have a beautiful, green landscape on dry land. Here are some tips to follow to achieve that dream.
Install a below-ground irrigation system
The easiest way to keep a yard moist without constantly having to water is to have a below-ground irrigation system installed. A landscaping company can bury flexible tubing that leads to the various areas where the plants are planted. You can program the irrigation system to automatically drip some water into the soil every hour or every two hours, which will ensure the soil remains moist.
Choose plants that can tolerate dryness
If you plant pansies and tulips and expect them to do well in your dry soil, you'll be disappointed. You really need to choose plants that can tolerate the dryness and stay green and vibrant regardless. Here are a few good options:
- Chives
- Various Cacti
- Yucca
- Pyromania
- Baby's Breath
- Russian Sage
Work with your landscaping team to choose just three or four plants that will thrive in spite of your dry soil, and then arrange these plants in an attractive and balanced pattern.
Amend the soil
Another good move is to amend the soil. You can have some compost and peat moss worked into the top layer of the soil in the areas where you plan on planting the most plants. These amendments will help the soil hold more water, and they will also add some nutrients to help the plants thrive.
Use some hardscaping to break things up
Filling an entire dry yard with drought-tolerant plants and the necessary irrigation supplies can be expensive and cumbersome. You can keep costs down and also make the space look a bit more balanced by including some hardscaping elements in your design. A row of benches down the middle of the yard, a concrete grill area, some stone retaining walls, a concrete fountain are all hardscaping elements that add character to your landscape and make the space look balanced without requiring as much maintenance as plants.
You can have gorgeous landscaping on dry land; you just have to go about it in the right way. Follow the tips above to create your dream yard and talk to a landscaping company for more help.
