Xeriscaping - The Greenfield Tool Box

Greenfield Tool Box
Xeriscaping
DESIGN..................... Site Configuration
PROCESS
IMPLEMENTATION
Credit | Creative Commons | Wilma Rubens Credit | Mine Planter
Tool Intent
TOOL DESCRIPTION
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Xeriscaping is a type of landscaping which follows certain principles to be more
environmentally friendly, especially in terms of water conservation. In a prairie environment
such as the Calgary region, an important percentage of public utilities’ water can be used
to maintain public and private landscapes. Xeriscaping is therefore an effective solution to
reduce water consumption and municipalities have an important role to play in promoting
this practice. The practice of xeriscaping offers multiple other advantages, including time
and money savings, and reduced impacts on the environment by using less fertilizer and
pesticides.
To reduce the use of water,
fertilizers, and pesticides in
gardens, parks and open spaces
through plant selection and
planting area design.
The practice of xeriscaping includes the following principles:
Designing for water conservation
Plants with similar water needs are grouped together and watered according to their needs. If
plants with higher water needs are desired, the site can be divided into sections which have
different water needs: an ‘’oasis’’ zone, a moderate-water-use zone and a low-water-use
zone. Grading can help to direct water to areas where it is most needed.
Improving soil
The ability of soil to retain water and
nutrients should be improved. Heavy,
clay soils drain too slowly while sandy
and stony soils drain too quickly. Adding
compost or other organic material helps
to increase the quality of soils.
Reducing lawn area
Lawn area can be limited to areas where
it is needed for recreational activities. In
other areas, groundcovers, rock gardens,
or tiered gardens can be used to reduce
the need for water, fertilizer, and lawn
care.
Greenfield Tool Box
Credit | Creative Commons | Jose Kevo
USERS
Municipal Officials
Municipal Planning Staff
Planning + Design Professionals
Engineers
Land Developers
Credit| Nora Bryan | Calgary Heralkd Blog
Landowners
Community Members
O2 Planning + Design Inc.
Xeriscaping
CASE STUDIES | BEST PRACTICES
Selecting appropriate plants
Native plants are obvious choices for
xeriscaping in southern Alberta. A wide
palette of drought-tolerant plants is available
for garden designers and gardeners in the
Calgary region.
Watering wisely
Watering should be done in the morning
when evaporation rates are lowest. Water
can also be collected with a rain barrel.
Usually, lawns, annual flowerbeds and
vegetable gardens need only about 2.5 to
3.5 cm of water over a week, depending
on weather. Trees and shrubs require less
water. In general, plants require extra water
in the first two years of their establishment.
Using mulches
Organic mulches such as bark and wood
chips reduce water evaporation, moderate
the temperature of the soil, prevent weeds
from germinating, and minimize soil erosion.
Mulches should be applied 5 to 10 cm deep.
Since organic mulches decompose, the
organic matter is slowly returned into the
soil and new mulch needs to be added over
time.
Water Conservation Density Bonus Program,
Okotoks
Rain Barrel
In this program, developers may adopt mandatory water
conservation measures through a legally-binding Restrictive
Covenant requiring the installation of comprehensive water
conservation features. In return, the Town permits the
developer to increase the density on the site by 10%, with
an offsetting water consumption reduction. This results in
a development that exceeds water conservation targets
established by the Town of Okotoks MDP by 20%. Several
communities such as Drake Landing and sections of
Cimmaron have used this program.
Credit | Creative Commons | Arlington County
Source | Town of Okotoks, Sustainable Okotoks, Water Consumption.
Drake Landing Water Conservation Program,
Okotoks
Wood Mulch
Credit | Creative Commons | HoskingIndustries
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WHEN IN THE PROCESS IT IS USED?
A local municipality may incorporate xeriscaping principles into its Municipal Development
Plan or other plans, such as Area Structure Plans, to promote water conservation and reduce
water consumption. Bylaws which include xeriscaping principles as a requirement for new
development or density bonus program can also be implemented. Developers may then
increase the density of their development if they apply xeriscaping principles within the
landscaped areas.
Finally, the principles of xeriscaping can be applied when planning and designing parks,
open spaces, and public realm. Existing sites can also be retrofitted into water-conserving
xeriscaping.
Credit | Landmark Homes
Drake Landing became the first large-scale subdivision
(760 residential units) in Okotoks to adopt mandatory water
conservation measures in 2004. The agreement permitted the
developer to increase density to 836 units with an offsetting
water consumption reduction. Mandatory water conservation
measures at Drake Landing include:
›
›
Indoor: insulated piping, low flow fixtures, tap
aerators, and Energy Star (water conserving)
washing machine and dishwasher.
Outdoor: drip irrigation shrub beds using xeriscape and
mulch, subsoil scarified to 8 inches, topsoil minimum
8 inches, outdoor tap timers and rainbarrels.
Source | Town of Okotoks, Sustainable Okotoks, Water Consumption.
Greenfield Tool Box
O2 Planning + Design Inc.
Xeriscaping
POLICY SUPPORT
The City of Calgary Parks – Water Management Strategic Plan
Strategy 2: Plan new and existing park redevelopment to reduce the need for water and adopt
design practices that promote water conservation.
› New Practice 2.3: Where possible, new drought-tolerant plant material should be planted
to make parks more self-sustaining.
› New Practice 2.4: Parks will encourage the inclusion of xeric landscaping and/or more
drought tolerant plan material as an alternative to installing irrigation in new park
development or the redevelopment of existing parks.
The City of Calgary Land Use Bylaw 1P2007
When submitting a landscape plan for a multi-residential development, a developer may
reduce the minimum landscaped area of 40 % by up to 10 % by opting for low-water
landscaping.
General Rules for Multi-Residential Land Use Districts
Low Water Landscaping Option
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556 - For the Low Water Landscaping Option, the required 40.0 per cent landscaped area
may be reduced by 3.0 per cent of the area of the parcel where:
(a) a low water irrigation system is provided;
(b) the delivery of the irrigated water is confined to trees and shrubs;
(c) trees and shrubs with similar water requirements are grouped together;
(d) a maximum of 30.0 per cent of the required landscaped area is planted with sod and the
remainder is covered with plantings, mulch or hard surfaces;
(e) a minimum of 30.0 per cent of required trees are selected from the list in Table 3: Low
Water Trees; and
(f) a minimum of 30.0 per cent of required shrubs are selected from the list in Table 4: Low
Water Shrubs.
Town of Okotoks – Water Management Plan
Goal 5: Municipal Bylaw and the Wise Use of Water Resources:
› To ensure the effective and efficient use of the Town’s water supply by residents,
institutional and commercial users through a regulatory water conservation framework.
› Strategies and Actions: Undertake the research and implementation of bylaws
for mandatory low-flow devices for new residential, commercial and institutional
construction; and Outdoor Landscape Design Standards. Water & Sewer Bylaw rewrites 2009
Cochrane Sustainable Plan
Pathway 4: Easing Climate Change: Go natural with xeriscaping.
Greenfield Tool Box
Xeriscaping in Cochrane
Source | Cochrane Sustainability Plan
O2 Planning + Design Inc.
Xeriscaping
CASE STUDIES | BEST PRACTICES
The City of Calgary Water-wise gardening initiative, Water Services
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The City of Calgary Water Services developed brochures
to inform the public on water-wise practices for gardening
and landscaping. These publications include a list of plants,
shrubs, and trees that are drought-tolerant and adaptable to
Calgary’s climate.
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Shrubs:
COMMON
NAME
LATIN
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NAME
Albert Thorn
Honeysuckle
Lonicera spinosa var "Albertii" ★★
Hardy, 60-cm tall shrub with interesting fragrant pink flowers and
fall berries. Hard to find but excellent in full sun.
Blue Star Juniper
Juniperus squamata ★★★★
A very compact shape – a little button! Warning about cedar-apple
rust – don’t use junipers in the same yard as saskatoons, apples
or hawthorns.
Common Lilac
Syringa vulgaris ★★★★
Common lilacs tolerate drought and have great fragrance and
June colour in the garden. Preston lilacs do not have the same
intense fragrance. These shrubs can also be pruned
as small trees.
Creeping Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis ★★★★
Many excellent cultivars. Most get to three metres
across so be wary on small sites. ‘Motherlode’ is yellow
in summer and orange in fall. Warning about cedarapple rust – don’t use junipers in the same yard as saskatoons,
apples or hawthorns. Native.
Dwarf Blue Spruce
Picea pungens "Glauca Globosa" ★★★★
Fat, round and very blue. Excellent in a two by two metre space in
half to full sun. There's still a lot of confusion between Montgomery
and the globe forms of blue spruce. Montgomery is a small tree four
or more metres tall. Un-pruned globes often revert to this form so
ensure any emerging vertical sprouts are removed immediately.
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Yard Smart
ANNUALS and PERENNIALS
Be yard
smart.
Conserving water and creating a
beautiful garden can go hand-in-hand.
Created in partnership with:
Greenfield Tool Box
O2 Planning + Design Inc.
Xeriscaping
CASE STUDIES | BEST PRACTICES
High River’s First Xeriscape Garden
High River’s First Xeriscape Garden
Credit | Town of High River
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RELATED TOOLS
Low-Impact Development + Green Infrastructure
LEED ND Rating System
The Town of High River developed its first xeriscape garden in
a vacant lot and created two short videos demonstrating the
design and construction of a xeriscape garden. The videos are
posted on their website.
Credit | Town of High River |
(http://www.highriver.ca/going-green/greenspaces)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Calgary Water-Wise Gardening (http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/BU/water_services/conservation/lawn_garden/water_wise_gardening_brochure.pdf)
Prairie Urban Garden (http://www.prairieurbangarden.ca/index.html)
High River’s First Xeriscape Garden (http://www.highriver.ca/going-green/greenspaces)
The City of Calgary Parks – Water Management Strategic Plan (http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/cityclerks/council_policies/csps026.pdf)
The Town of Cochrane – Sustainability Plan
http://cochranesustainability.ca/about-the-csp/pathways/pathway-4-easing-climate-change/
http://cochranesustainability.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Cochrane-Sustainability-Plan.pdf
Creating the Prairie Xeriscape, Sara Williams, University Extension Press, University of Saskatchewan, 1997.
http://www.albertaviews.ab.ca/issues/2003/mayjun03/mayjun03garden.pdf
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O2 Planning + Design Inc.