Absolutely Bushed

Swamped with yard work? Turn off your sprinklers and try this instead!

Just about everything's big in Texas. But when it comes to water, well, there's little to speak of. So how do some Texas homeowners reconcile their desire for vast green yards with a shortage of H₂O? The answer is

Xeriscaping -- a very big word indeed.

Derived from the Greek word xeros, meaning dry, xeriscaping is a form of landscaping that's miserly with water. And while it may conjure up images of tumbleweed landscapes devoid of greenery save the occasional cactus, you can bet your 10-gallon hat that a xeriscaped yard can be as beautiful and lush as any other type of landscape.

Xeriscaping fundamentals include using native and adaptive plants, creating efficient irrigation systems, improving soil quality, and mulching. In places like central Texas, where droughts are so bad you can get fined up to $5,000 for over watering, residents who xeriscape may reduce the amount of water used for yard work by as much as 60 percent. And xeriscaped yards require less work overall -- a big draw for those who have endured unbearably hot summers trying to revive a once-plush blanket of Bermuda grass turned burnt brown.

"Mow grass and drag water hoses -- that's what I did all summer," says Dave Watson, a retired electrician in Dallas, Texas and client of mine recalling the upkeep needed for his old yard. Fed up with the hassle, Watson turned to xeriscaping 11 years ago. Today he grows wildflowers and buffalo grass, a native prairie grass that can be left to grow naturally (it reaches a maximum height of 6 to 8 inches) and is drought- and cold- tolerant. For Watson, it was a cure for the summertime blues: "I love it. There's no watering and fertilizing. A couple times a year, I'll mow. Other than that, I do nothing to take care of it."

Today more than 40 states have xeriscape projects, and because xeriscapes are based on climate, there is great variation: An upstate New York yard teeming with bee balms, sunflowers, tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths, snowdrops, and daylilies, for example, contrasts sharply with the irises, cornflowers, yarrows, California poppies, and catchflies that thrive in Reno, Nevada. Obviously, a place doesn't have to be parched to benefit from xeriscaping. Most North American landscapes are a disaster ecologically, the whole public has been trained to over water and over fertilize.

Finding what grows well in your yard is key to an effective xeriscape. One rule of the green thumb: Choose plants that are native to within a 50-mile radius of your home. Native plant societies, water districts, and university extension departments often keep such lists. Many cities also have xeriscape demonstration gardens.

Another trick to a successful xeriscape is grouping together plants with similar water needs. For instance, you wouldn't put thirsty roses next to cacti -- the water required for one would be wasted on the other (not to mention they'd have nothing to talk about!). Xeriscaping also allows for an "oasis zone," where gardeners grow a few prized water-guzzling plants. The oasis zone is often located in the front of a home where these plants can be easily watered and admired.

So, is this nation of nozzle junkies ready to dive into xeriscaping? "Most people aren't going to take the plunge," says Watson. "Perhaps if they would try a small section of the yard first, I feel 90 percent of them would be convinced."

Plants used for Xeriscaping should he selected for their low water requirements, adaptability to the region's soil and climate, and visual appeal. South/Central Texas is blessed with an abundance of beautiful native

plants. Most have lower water demands, fewer pest problems and lower fertilizer needs than many exotic plants brought into the area.

Through the efforts of local nurserymen, native Texas plants are readily available in area nurseries and garden centers. Xeriscaping uses many of these native plants; plus many well-adapted exotic plants that also have lower water demands. Sounds like it's time to get our feet wet!
QUESTION: Jimmie, I just planted a 3 gallon Oleander. The one I just planted has one bloom on it. I realize it will take some time to get it to look like it should. Should I prune it and when? Thanks so much for your columns, they really help me out! Pamela B. in Prosper
ANSWER: Hi Pamela,
The oleander requires very little in the way of attention or care. Oleanders are normally grown as multi-trunk shrubs in areas where they are subject to freeze damage. In frost free climates they can be grown as trees. If they do get frozen back, they are normally root hardy in our part of the world and will return vigorously from their roots. Use only 'Hardy Pink' or 'Hardy Red' varieties for minimum cold damage. Since they bloom on new growth, pruning is normally done just before they break dormancy in the spring. Tip pruning at that time will increase the fullness of the plant and therefore the blossoms. While it is no problem unless the plant material is ingested, you need to be aware that all portions of plant are extremely toxic. This means absolutely no marshmallow roasts using the stems for roasting sticks!
QUESTION: Jimmie, I don’t know if you can help me but here goes,
About 7 years ago my husband and I were eating grapefruits and as a joke he put a single grapefruit seed in a planter that had housed a palm tree which had died. Well, a few months later something sprouted and continued to grow......It is now about two feet high and has a small leaf attached to a larger leaf on the stem and also has some serious thorns. Do we have a grapefruit tree? We are looking forward to your reply when you have time, Thank You, Rachael K. in Prosper

ANSWER: Hi Rachael,
Yes, you do!!!! The tree has thorns because it is in a juvenile state. Once the tree matures and starts to flower, it will not have thorns. However, if the tree is only two feet tall after 7 years, it will take a long time for that to happen. It you want to try to get the tree to fruit, you need to put it in full sunlight and fertilize it regularly. Or you can just enjoy the tree as a houseplant. Until next time….Happy Gardening!!