Science Fact Finder | The Plant World - What Is Meant By "Xeriscaping"?

What is meant by "xeriscaping"?

A xeriscape (pronounced zeer-i-scape) is a landscape of plants that require very little water. Taken from the Greek word "xeros," meaning dry, this type of gardening utilizes drought-resistant plants and grasses that require water only every two to three weeks. Xeriscaping is a common practice in areas that regularly experience water shortages, such as the southwestern United States.

Xeriscaping also makes use of techniques, such as drip irrigation and the heavy mulching of plant beds, that improve the soil's ability to absorb and retain water.

Source: Flower and Garden, vol. 34 (May 1990), pp. 44-45, 66-67.

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