Sage Outdoor Designs » landscape design

Xeriscaping has the reputation of being wild looking, but a few classic types of landscape designs have always been drought tolerant. If these styles work with the architecture of your home, they could be the key to reducing your water bills without having to compromise on style.

– Spanish Colonial: this classic style originated in Spain but has been a historic style throughout all of California’s history. It has clean lines and a lot of geometry. A few great xeriscape plants for this look include Bougainvillea, Kniphofia, and Rock Roses.

– Moorish: this style was born in the Middle East but can be seen throughout Spain and North Africa. Gardens in this style feel like exotic oases. Pattern is used frequently, particularly in beautiful mosaic tile work. A few waterwise plants for this style: Kangaroo Paw, Germander, succulents, Aloe, and Grevillea.

– French: this style saw its peak with the design of the palace at Versailles. It is a very regimented style that appeals to people who want order in the garden. The most common element is known as a parterre, a pattern created with carefully clipped short hedges that is typically viewed from above. The parterres are typically made from Boxwood hedges with a contrasting interior planting with either grey foliage, such as Licorice Plant, or colored flowers.

– Montecito: the Estates in Montecito are dotted with stately California Live Oaks, a tree species so drought tolerant that they are most frequently killed by overwatering. The Montecito style is a blend of classic geometry and a more natural integration with the California chaparral. Consider classic forms close to the house and a more wilderness aesthetic at the edges of the garden. Ornamanetal grasses are a wonderful accent in this style of garden.

Since many Estate Gardens in California existed long before irrigation on the scale we practice today was feasible, returning to a classic look can cut your water bills without cutting your curb appeal.

(Image) Alhambra-style garden at L’Ecurie, Hunting Valley, Ohio, the home of Iris W and Thomas V H Vail Sr, publisher of “The Plain Dealer”; designed in 1978.

If you haven’t already taken a trip to the Cuyamaca College Water Conservation Garden, it is well worth a visit. They have a variety of display gardens showing off beautiful xeriscape design options. Their demonstration gardens teach about composting, how much water different varieties of turf use, and how to attract birds and butterflies to your garden. The garden is large, kid friendly and handicap accessible, so it is agreat day trip for the whole family.

My favorite thing about this garden: it is a great place for people to see that drought tolerant plantings can be beautfil! Most of the plants are tagged, so you can collect ideas about what species you like. The different gardens show off plantings from Meditteranean climates around the world. Want to see what a California native plant garden can look like? Or plants from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa? They have an area dedicated to plantings in pots and anoher to common groundcovers.

They also have many classes and festivals throughout the year. See their schedule for more information. Or just check out their web site.