Xeriscaping and
xerogardening refers to
landscaping and gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental
irrigation. It is promoted in areas that do not have easily accessible supplies of
fresh water, and is gaining acceptance in other areas as
climate patterns shift.
The word xeriscaping is a portmanteau of xeros (Greek for "dry") and landscape.
Plants whose natural requirements are appropriate to the local climate are emphasized, and care is taken to avoid losing water to evaporation and run-off. While many Denver Water employees helped coin the term xeriscape, Xeriscape and the xeriscape logo are not registered trademarks of Denver Water, the water department of Denver, Colorado.[1] They were created by the Front Range Xeriscape Task Force of Denver Department in 1978.[1] The specific plants used in xeriscaping depend upon the climate. Some common plants used in Western xeriscaping are agave, cactus, lavender, juniper, sedum and thyme.
In some areas, terms such as water-conserving landscapes, drought-tolerant landscaping, zeroscaping, and smart scaping are used instead.
