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What is Naturescaping?

Naturescaping (or nature scaping) is a term that refers to a method of landscaping that allows people and nature to coexist. By incorporating certain plants, especially native ones, into ones yard, one can attract beneficial insects, birds, and other creatures, and help keep our rivers and streams healthy. Source - Wikipedia

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.  Source - Wikipedia

The basic concept of naturescaping, or Xeriscaping, is to incorporate native plant species into your landscape instead of exclusively using species that didn't evolve in the local climate and subsequently require constant irrigation or fertilization to survive.  Naturescaping doesn't mean you can't use non-native plant species.  However, by grouping species together based on their characteristics you can control watering and be more efficient. As a result you won't water the whole yard equally, overwatering some plants and under watering others, because the plant species are grouped to allow you to water appropriately in various areas.

By considering layout and slope of your yard naturescaping can also take advantage of high and low points in the yard to collect and hold water more effectively to ensure moisture availability for longer periods of time during drought.

Why should I consider Naturescaping?

As the importance of water conservation, often driven by drought, increases all across North America it is important to look at some alternative approaches to water conservation beyond watering bans, rainwater harvesting, and other technologies and techniques.  Not that there is anything wrong with these approaches, in fact, they have already proven to show great results in reducing water demand during summer months in many areas.  However, there are additional approaches that also provide benefit, like Naturescaping or Xeriscaping.

Naturescaping can also be a much more beautiful solution that traditional grass and shrubs and help create an atmosphere that brings you closer to nature.  Naturescapes can work very effectively in areas where traditional plants and grasses don't thrive well and require constant attention.

A properly designed naturescape can also reduce maintenance, use less water, chemicals, fertilizers etc. and in the end save you time and money.

Naturescapes, when carefully designed, can also help to better control stormwater run-off as well as erosion that can affect surface and ground water quality.

Conserve Water and protect Water Sources

Many municipalities report increases in water demand of up to 50% during summer months due to the additional demand from outdoor water use.  This places a significant strain on municipal treatment facilities and on our ground and surface water sources.  As such many of us are familiar with periodic, or mandatory watering bans.

Did you know that to put 1" of water, often cited (correctly or incorrectly), as the appropriate weekly quantity of water for irrigation of your lawn you will use about 235L for every 100sqft.  Much of that water, depending on when you actually water and how is lost to evaporation, run-off, and just plain watering the sidewalk and driveway.  If you have a yard that is 30' x 40' that will translate to 2820L a week.  That's about 50,000L from June to September. 

Naturescaping is not ugly.

Naturescaping is NOT the process of choosing the ugliest plants and making your yard look like weed central.  Properly designed naturescapes, with carefully selected plant species can be very beautiful and colourful, with varying colours through-out the season.

Considerations & Tips

• Work with an expert to choose appropriate plant species and help layout your yard in an effective manner.
• Try to work with existing soil conditions. Improve your soil conditions using organic materials like manure, compost and composted leaves.  This will break up clay like soils and help build up sandy soils.
• Plant your naturescape or  xeriscape garden in early fall.  This allows the plants to take advantage of cooler weather, autumn rain and spring rainfall and melting snow to help establish the plants and develop strong roots before the first summer drought. 
• Use mulches like bark chips, shredded bark, gravel etc. to help retain moisture, control weeds and reduce erosion.
• Consider naturescapes for awkward areas (narrow or irregular shape) that cannot be irrigated efficiently or for high traffic areas that are difficult to maintain.

Summary

The issue isn't that you can't or shouldn't have a lawn or plants or gardens.  It's about looking for ways to minimize our impact on the environment and natural resources.  If you like a green lawn, great, invest in a rainwater harvesting system and use efficient watering techniques to reduce demand on municipal facilities, ground water sources, reduce storm water run-off, and ensure more effective application of water to your yard.  Or, consider other solutions like naturescaping or xeriscaping for the many reasons described above.