Xeriscaping Basics: Creating a Water-Wise Lake Landscape

Photo courtesy of Mirage Landscaping

Those of us who love lake life know that water is a precious natural resource. We also know that enjoying a laidback lake lifestyle is far more appealing than spending hours on excessive watering and lawn maintenance. Now, more than ever, water conservation has become vital due to global warming, unpredictable droughts, and daily consumption by millions of people.

Experts estimate that American households use nearly 107,000 gallons of water per year, with about 50 to 70 percent to water their lawns and gardens. According to the EPA, “As much as 50 percent of the water we use outdoors is lost due to wind, evaporation, and runoff caused by inefficient irrigation methods and systems.” The good news? Creating a water-wise xeriscape (zer-i-skape) for your lake home can reduce your water usage by as much as 50 percent.

So, what exactly is xeriscaping? Originating from the Greek word xeros, meaning dry, combined with the word landscape, it is an eco-friendly sustainable method of landscaping that will ultimately conserve water, help protect the environment, and require less maintenance overall—a win-win for all of us. Coined in the early eighties by a team of landscape and water industry professionals in Colorado, xeriscaping has become increasingly popular in all areas of the country—not just drier climates.

Xeriscaping 101

Photo courtesy of How Stuff Works

If you’re ready to embrace the idea of xeriscaping on your lake property, start with the basics. Developed by Ken Ball, ASLA LLA, a landscape architect who was part of the original xeriscaping team in Denver in the 1980s, the Seven Principles of Xeriscaping are a great guide to follow:

Planning & Design

First, sketch out a basic landscape plan on paper. Map out plant materials and hardscaped areas appropriate for your regional climate and include any water-saving solutions. For instance, plot out areas where you could replace turf with drought-resistant plants or mulching. Add stone walkways, a fire pit or barbecue pit, and any other desired seating and entertaining areas that may replace water-thirsty landscaping.

Strategize Turf Areas

Photo courtesy of Redfin

Limiting turf areas that require a lot of water and maintenance is an essential part of xeriscaping. Check with your local garden and lawn care center to learn more about native and low-water grasses suitable to your region and landscape aesthetic. There is no need to replace all your grass with mulch or gravel. Instead, think through how you use your yard and what best appeals to you visually. Consider using Bella bluegrass, a dwarf vegetative grass that thrives in warm and cool climates and most any soil type. It also requires less water and mowing than other typical turf lawns. Consider putting in low-growing ground cover, brick or stepping-stone pathways, or other more durable options that won’t look trampled down for heavy traffic areas.

Plant Selection

Photo courtesy of Habitat Network

Choose your plants carefully. Consider the location and grouping of your plant materials and make sure they are drought tolerant and don’t require excessive watering. Remember that plants needing more sunlight will be happier on the western side of your landscape. Also, consider the slope of your lake landscape, as plants requiring little water are best placed at higher elevations, and thirstier plants will catch excess water if they are set lower. When xeriscaping, native plants perform best, but you can check with a garden center for a list of plants appropriate for your climate, soil conditions, and available resources. For more ideas, visit Epic Gardening.

Soil Improvement

Remember that good soil equals healthy plants. Most soil contains a combination of silt, sand, and clay, but silt ultimately performs best for xeriscaping. Clay can sometimes retain moisture too long, and sand can allow too much drainage. Rich, organic soils encourage deeper roots, absorb water better, and reduce water runoff. 

Mulching

Adding mulch to your lake landscape is a relatively easy way to help your soil retain moisture, keep your plants—and the ground—cool, and minimize water evaporation. It’s not only aesthetically pleasing but also keeps weeds at bay. Choose from organic wood-based mulches like cedar, pine, and bark for sunny areas and stone-based inorganic mulches such as lava rock and cobblestone for shady spots.  

Efficient Irrigation

Make sure you know the water requirements for all your plants and group them accordingly. Some can thrive in drier climates, and others will require more water, especially when newly planted and establishing their root systems. Without enough water, roots will lose their foundation and become weaker. Save watering instructions from your garden center and monitor your plants closely. Automatic sprinkler systems and hose-end sprinklers can provide efficient irrigation for your xeriscape. Keep any irrigation systems low to the ground to avoid excessive evaporation and prevent water from reaching unwanted areas. Micro-spray, drip, and bubbler irrigation systems are ideal for shrubs, flowers, and vegetables. Always check with a professional to keep up to date on the most current irrigation technology.

Maintenance

Photo courtesy of Lankford Architecture

When it comes to xeriscaping, maintaining your lake landscape is surprisingly easy. As pioneer Ken Ball once said, “The further you take a design from the natural environment, the more maintenance you have to apply forever. If you don’t, Mother Nature will reclaim the site.” Think of xeriscaping as a more natural approach to gardening and landscaping. Its very intent is to create an eco-friendly environment, improve sustainability, and cut down on overall maintenance, mowing, and watering. Of course, you’ll want to groom your plants as needed and promote growth by keeping your yard clear of debris, leaves, and branches.

If you’re ready to embrace all the beautiful benefits of xeriscaping on your lake property, talk to a local landscape professional or visit Love Your Landscape for more information.

5 Tips for Boosting Your Curb Appeal This Fall

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Aesthetics aren’t everything at a lake house. Your special vacation home is about what’s on the inside where memories are made with friends and family. It’s about unwinding, relaxing, and embracing imperfection. However, when it comes to selling your lake home, looks are important. It’s what your sellers first see when they arrive at your home. According to Homelight, a home with an attractive, well-maintained landscape will attract 5.5-12.7% more than those with no landscaping. At off-lake homes, the curb is the home’s front exterior. But at a lake house, there’s a second curb to consider — your shoreline. As a lake homeowner, it’s important to devote equal attention to improving both curbs. At Lake Homes Realty, we have some advice for you.

Lawn Maintenance

Taking the time to manicure your lawn is the first, most essential rule of boosting curb appeal. A well-kept lawn is an immediate sign to prospective buyers that your home is in good shape. But it doesn’t have to be a daunting task. There are plenty of low maintenance strategies for landscape maintenance. Even cutting the grass doesn’t have to be demanding — check out this tool that mows your lawn automatically. However, during the fall, one piece of manual labor required is picking up leaves. In the winter, this means taking care of the snow. A lawn that’s overcrowded by the elements will look unappealing.

 

Pressure Washers

Photo courtesy of Country Living Magazine.

When removing leaves from your lawn, the rake and garbage bag routine can get old and arduous. For a quick solution, a pressure washer can help. You can spray these leaves off your walkway, driveway, or even lawn with a high power hose. This technique also works for plastic porch furniture, outdoor patios, and stone or concrete that needs a quick and powerful cleansing.

Paint Upgrade

Painting house exterior
Photo courtesy of HGTV.

Most illustrations of haunted, abandoned houses all share one trait in common — chipped paint. To avoid your lake home looking like a ghost town, make sure to give the front of your home a fresh, new coat if needed. It’s an easy and often fun DIY task that makes a big difference for curb appeal. It’s also worth considering changing up the original color. For example, if your house is gray or white, a red door might be charming. Kristine Ginsberg, a home designer in New Jersey, told HGTV “make sure there is a contrast between the front door and the facade of the home.”

Update Outdoor Furniture

Photo courtesy of Apricity Outdoor.

When visiting your lake house, potential buyers want to imagine themselves relaxing on the front porch. Showcasing attractive furniture will help those buyers bring their vision to life. An essential piece of outdoor furniture maintenance is removing mold, mildew, and pollen from the cushions and furniture frames. Thankfully there’s plenty of DIY solutions for making your furniture shiny and new — it’s easy to create a simple mixture of ammonia, vinegar, baking soda, and water. If your outdoor furniture is truly beyond repair, you may also want to consider buying entirely new porch furniture. Brands like Summer ClassicsPolywood, and Brown Jordan are excellent, high-quality choices for lake living. When choosing furniture, you may also want to consider this year’s furniture trends.

Tend to the Shoreline

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

As we previously mentioned, your shoreline is your second curb! It may even be more integral to increasing your curb appeal than the traditional homefront. After all, potential buyers are most interested in the lakefront. Ensure that you’re maintaining the landscape, paint, furniture, and overall aesthetics of your backyard just like you would for the front. 

Throughout the selling process, keep in mind that lake homes sell year-round. The idea that spring is the best time to sell is simply a myth. With the right curb appeal and the right agent, you’ll be able to sell your lake home this season!

Get a Leg Up on a Luscious Lawn

As the last of the winter chill (hopefully) begins to melt away, it’s time to kick your lawn care into high gear. Spring is a time of rapid growth. Although your lawn has spent the entire winter either blanketed under ice and snow, or dried out and patchy, it can come back more vivacious than ever with a little bit of TLC. This spring prep checklist is sure to provide you with a luscious lawn come lake season.

1. Clean up

First, clean up any leaves, branches, or debris that has accumulated over the winter months.

If you have piles of snow remaining, spread them out into smaller, less dense piles so that they can melt evenly. This will prevent the soil underneath from compacting and allow the snow to melt more quickly.

Use a rake to collect any remaining leaves and thatch buildup. Otherwise, they’ll decompose and lead to mold on your lawn — if they haven’t started to collect mold already.

Pick up stray branches and other large items that can get stuck in your lawnmower and damage the machinery. Branches and lawn debris can also prevent fertilizers and pesticides from being absorbed into your lawn.

2. Mow early

You should start mowing within the first few weeks of spring, depending on when the frost subsides.

Wait until your grass has reached at least two inches in height. This will avoid injuring delicate blades and exposing it to disease.

You should mow every five or six days during the spring, which will prevent the grass from growing too tall. It will also reduce your likelihood of scalping it too short.

3. Combat weeds with mulch

Make sure to edge your flower beds and replace all the old mulch from last season.

Mulch is a great way to moderate moisture and keep pests and disease out of your landscape. As for your grass, you can apply a pre-emergent herbicide to help fight weeds before they rear their ugly heads.

4. Prevent pests

Most pests can be avoided by following a consistent watering routine to maintain your luscious lawn. But you can also rid mosquitoes by removing areas of standing water.

Make sure all divots or other areas where puddles can form are filled in. De-thatching your lawn can also help keep soil-borne pests, like grubs and ants, from finding shelter.

5. Fertilize

In the early spring, you should use a combination of fertilizer and herbicide to feed your lawn and prevent crabgrass.

You can apply more fertilizer again, six weeks after the first application date, but keep in mind that early fertilizing is ideal.

You want to apply fertilizer before temperatures become so hot that the nitrogen burns your grass.

If you want to avoid synthetic chemicals, consider using compost or other organic matter for a healthier approach.

6. Wait to overseed

Although you can overseed in the spring if you notice patches of bare lawn, you will have better results with most grass types if you wait until late summer or fall.

Overseeding in the spring can sometimes be counterproductive, particularly if you are applying a pre-emergent herbicide. The seeds won’t germinate since they will be stifled by the chemical.

If you can’t bear to stare at the brown, dead spots all summer, try fertilizing or laying down patches of sod.

A luscious lawn in the summer starts with proper care in the spring. Put the hours in now, and you’ll be thanking yourself when your lawn is the talk of the lake come July.

For more helpful tips and advice on making sure your lake home looks its best year-round, check out more articles here.

Article Contributed by: Sarah Miller, Lawnstarter.com