阿肯巴赫节水园林景观花园丨Waterwise Landscape Design

The Achenbach Garden

The Achenbach Garden, designed by Waterwise Landscape Design is a good example of xeriscape conversion. It had been a front yard of poor lawn and an unkempt water-thirsty cedar hedge.

First, the lawn, weeds, and cedars were removed. A few weeks later, more weeding was done before bringing in high quality topsoil for planting areas.

Plants were chosen for low maintenance and low water needs. They are well-spaced to allow for mature size. A drip watering system was installed with custom emitters used to accommodate plants with different water needs. The soil was then mulched with three inches of Ogogrow.

With two exceptions, the xeriscaping principles have been followed well. The existing birch tree will need extra water, especially as it is surrounded by gravel. The theme of the garden, “Japan meets Okanagan”, includes a very water-thirsty Japanese maple. These trees generally do not do well in our heat and dry air. This one is getting extra water, is well mulched and a distance away from the hot reflective rocks so it may manage, but it would be happier in a shaded spot.

Achenbach front door view #1 before the xeriscape project

Street view soon after xeriscaping

Garden view in the Fall, 4 years later.

Street view, year four

Achenbach front garden before the xeriscape project.

Front garden lawn and cedar removal

Achenbach front garden before the xeriscape project.

Garden plantings, beds mulched

The steps taken in the xeriscaping process were:

Landscape plan in place before work started

Cedars and lawn removed

Top layer of weeds removed and more weeding done before installation to reduce

weeding maintenance

Excellent quality topsoil brought in

Low water, drought tolerant and low maintenance plants used

Drip irrigation installed with custom emitters to each plant for its particular water need

Tree with higher water need (Japanese maple) given extra irrigation emitters

Soil mulched with 3” of Ogogrow

Photo credits– Kathleen Achenbach