So far, I have discussed with you practical solutions as well as proper planning and design of your Xeriscape. The most exciting and perhaps stressful part of this process is choosing the proper plant material…wow, the $10K question!  I always recommend that prior to producing the landscape plan, you should do your due diligence with regards to plant material.  You first need to decide structure, color, and form protocols that you will maintain throughout your design.

Make a list…decide what color schemes you want to incorporate.  Always have a few back-ups in case you cannot find a suitable color that works for you region.  You know your colors, now keep in mind what size and shape you want plant material to be or become.  Here is a big problem that many designers ignore…how large is the plant, tree, or bush going to get in 5 years…10 years…?   I cannot count how many times I have seen yards that were completely overgrown.  I must confess…early in my career I made the same mistake.  I never had any complaints, but it was something I thought of as time went along and corrected that design flaw.  From then on, I made it a point to always think in terms of growth patterns. I even had clients occasionally question why I purposely left a certain area of the garden more open, until I explained to them what the particular plant would do withing 3-5 years.

A good idea is to purchase a couple of good Xeriscape books on different types of plant material.  There are a number of good ones in the market, but one that I have had for many years is: Xeriscape Plant Guide: 100 Water-Wise Plants for Gardens and Landscapes. This is available for purchase on Amazon.com. Amazon.com has other very good books loaded with valuable information on Xeriscape design as well as other types of landscape design.  Just go to Amazon.com. When you access this area, you can do a search for Xeriscape plant guides and you will find a number of great books loaded with pictures and information.

There are a number of plant types to keep in mind that can be incorporated into a fantastic Xeriscape design. Some of these include:

*Grasses

*Vines & Ground-covers

*Shrubs

*Trees

*Water-Saving Native Plants

Other elements of the softscape design that make a dramatic difference include, placing strategically, pots and urns filled with seasonal color. These really brighten up the look of the yard.  You can even include the pots and urns without any plant material…make them into more of a work of art.  Granite boulders are also an integral part of the softscape design, even though they are a hardscape element. They dramatically enhance form and texture.

A very popular option that creates an amazing “green” effect year around is the use of artificial turf. I have had it in my own yard for over 2 years with continual positive comments from neighbors…the maintenance is so easy.  Where others mow, water, fertilize, weed, and trim their grass…I have mine blown and vacuumed and it is green all years long!…not to forget about the water-efficiency aspect.

For your garden to flourish, be sure to amend the soil properly with organic material and a good quality sand to ensure proper drainage as well as root growth.  This is a very fluid concept in that you must find out what type of soil you have for the given region.  Areas of the northwest are very acidic, while areas of the southwest are very alkaline. This is very critical for water, fertilizer, and amendment considerations.

Proper plant choices, proper planning, and proper soil conditions will ensure that your garden will bring you great happiness, peace, and joy for years to come.  What an Empowering and Peaceful Thought!