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Get
To Know Your Site
Paying
attention to your garden's unique characteristics will help you to put the
right plant in the right place.
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Look
carefully at your garden. Note areas defined by varying amounts of
sun, heat, moisture and wind (microclimates) .
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Examine
your site for potential problems and advantages.
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Begin
a scaled plan showing buildings, driveways, trees and other features.
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Add
information on sun/shade, wind direction, soil type, slopes, low spots,
drainage, and good/bad views.
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Include
an arrow indicating north.
Zone
Your Landscape
Organizing
your garden into zones will help you to water thirsty and unthirsty plants appropriately
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A
high water use zone for lawns and water loving plants should be
located near entryways or areas of heavy use.
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A
moderate water-use zone for plants needing a little more water
than nature provides may take advantage of runoff from downspouts and
patios.
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A
low-water use zone for established trees and plants requires
little, if any additional water during the summer months.
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A
no water zone includes hardscapes (patios, decks, walkways) and
established trees and plants that can survive on rainfall only.
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Remember,
even water-efficient plants require watering for the first one to three
years until deep root systems have been established.
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Consider
the sunny and shady areas within your garden zones. Group plants
together that have similar water and sunlight needs.
(Top)
Analyze
Your Needs
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Consider
how many you want to use your garden: for entertaining, as a play
area for kids, for vegetable gardening, for erosion or climate control,
as a wildlife habitat or to enhance or hide a view.
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Think
about traffic patterns to and from the house when deciding where to put
walkways and paths. Indicate these choices on your map.
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Address
specific problems such as unsightly views or lack of privacy.
Put
Turf To Practical Use
Plan
An Efficient Watering System
Design
your watering system after planning all the zones, plants and hardscapes.
An efficient irrigation systems applies the right amount of water to the
right place at the right time.
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Design
your watering system to match your plants' water-use zones.
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Choose
equipment appropriate for your design, layout, and type of landscape.
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A
drip system which applies water slowly and directly to the root
zone, efficiently waters trees, shrubs, ground covers and containers.
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Soaker
hoses, inexpensive and easy to install, do well in planting beds.
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Sprinklers
best used for lawns, should apply water slowly with uniform
coverage. For underground systems, low-volume, low-angle sprays
and bubblers increase efficiency.
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Use
separate irrigation valves for each type of plant so individual
scheduling is possible.
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Make
sure that drip emitters or sprinklers do not apply water faster than the
soils ability to absorb it.
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Check
your system regularly for leaks.
(Top)
Put
it All Together: Develop A Master Plan
A
master plan shows how you want your garden to look and function over
time. Consider renovating or installing your landscape in phases as
time and budget allow.
Ask
for Professional Help
How
much professional help you'll want or need depends on the amount of design
and installation work you wish to do yourself. The most common source
of help are nursery personnel, landscape designers, landscape contractors,
and landscape architects. Ask for referrals from friends and
neighbors. Check references ( private clients) to see some
examples and talk with owners.
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