How to design a xeriscape

A xeriscape gardening is a concept born in the 70s in United States. Gardens where it is not used much water and hence are planted species that do not require water. The prefix "Xero" meaning "dry" and said the United States is born as a result of severe drought that hit the area in the 70's.

This idea of ​​garden scattered around various parts of the world, especially in dry climates and desert and now has reached places where water is abundant but is presented as a kind of innovative and original garden.

The xeriscape needs a quarter of what you need a conventional garden so water conservation is widely significant. Furthermore, this type of garden has an ecological and advocating a reduced use of machinery, fuel and other typical processes of maintaining a garden.

What to consider in designing a xeriscape?

Most important is the design of the grouping of plants. Species should be grouped depending on the amount of water they need. You can not put a plant that needs plenty of water along with one that does not need much. Then divide your garden into three: the area of low water, where they would plant low water consumption, half the area of consumption and high consumption. Or to further reduce water consumption can be made ​​only two zones: the low power consumption and a half.

In the xeriscape plan should some types of trees that function as shadows for certain types of plant and thus to guard against just because of this direct action on the plants can dehydrate. Once you have your xeriscape design according to the size and surface of the need to start working the soil.

You should measure the pH and raise or lower according to measurement results. In addition, you must verify that the soil has the nutrients so that it may be necessary to use certain types of fertilizer. Also check the salinity of soil and plant species to withstand this type of soil. To improve soil xeriscape hidroretentores is useful to have products that are placed on the ground and absorb rain water leaving the wet ground longer.

What species can be used for planting in the xeriscape?

To cite just a few, Palms, Tamariscos, Ligustrines, climbing plants, Aloe Vera, Acacias in the case of trees, among others.

The xeriscape is a very interesting alternative and your home and it will be very original.

Cultivation of sage: ideas and care tips

Salvia belongs to the family of aromatic herbs, in fact you could say that is the Queen of the plant aromatic. The Romans called it sacred or holy grass. If you enjoy growing plants and plants used to flavor dishes, you should not ignore the culture of Salvia.

Here are some ideas and suggestions for successfully cultivate sage and will last you a long time. They can grow along with other herbs which will give a beautiful fragrance to your garden or patio. You can also grow them in pots, but these should be large and wide to take root. About 30 inches is sufficient.

If your goal is to plant and Salvia on the floor, this plant is very adaptable to any type of soil. However, being a Mediterranean plant usually live well on dry, calcareous, well exposed to nature.

You Salvia plant in rows 20 inches apart from a cutting or plant from another. And rows must be about 70 centimeters from each other. You can take care of the land where the sage is growing weed. You can use chemical weed control without vestments to ruin the planting of Salvia. The Dicamba or bentazon are some of these chemicals that can be used without fear. It is also important to fertilize the soil with manure to provide potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus in abundance for the Salvia grow better and stronger. If the winter is severe, while harvesting sage can add more nitrogen to relieve the earth of the scourge of the bad season.

Irrigation should not be too abundant, should be light but frequent and must be exposed to light but is better than just not give directly. If you put the pot inside better be near a window where between bright and if you place it on garden and patio or better which is under half shade so the sun does not harm the Salvia.

If the sage is grown inside and insects approach usually sufficient watering and water remove these bugs. However if this fails you can try passing a sponge or cotton soaked in alcohol. This will make the water the plant, water to remove insects from your sage.

Follow these tips and you can enjoy the excellent properties of Salvia.

Garden watering systems

Every garden needs a good watering for the plants, flowers and trees look beautiful, healthy and strong. Now what is the best irrigation system for your garden? There are many irrigation systems are efficient but when choosing one or more of a need to take into account the characteristics of the garden.

What are the most efficient irrigation systems? What to consider when choosing a method of irrigation for your garden?

Sprinkling: This type of irrigation is ideal for large gardens, ample surface as the water reaches up to 6 meters. It is a simple irrigation system it can be placed at the end of the hose and go moving on the place where you want to go. Irrigation method is economical, does not need many amenities and very effective.

Drip Irrigation:   This method is very effective especially if your garden is small and has few plants. It is also useful for people who are not much at home and need your garden in good condition. The drip irrigation system consists of water each plant droppers applying localized manner on each of the plants. The drippers are built cheaper and dropper auto compensates button. This method has the advantage that it saves water and soil moisture is maintained constant thereby avoiding puddles which damage crops.

Subsurface irrigation: The underground irrigation is a modern method being implemented in many parts of the world. These pipes installed below the ground from 10 to 50 centimeters. This is an innovative irrigation system has several advantages such as high durability of the pipes because they are not directly exposed to the sun, is a more aesthetic type of irrigation and prevents odors.

Irrigation distribution: This type of irrigation is similar to sprinkler irrigation but are smaller broadcasters. Is ideal for small gardens because, depending on the size of the diffuser and the water pressure to strip water 3 or 4 meters.

Irrigation hose: This is the most common irrigation system. Although it has some disadvantages such as uneven watering and excessive consumption of water, many people find it relaxing to be watering. It's like the time off throughout the day.

There are other more innovative irrigation systems that are being implemented recently in some European countries such as surface irrigation blanket consisting of polyethylene pipes and pressure compensating drippers are two blankets. The drippers are intended to saturate the water and blankets are to provide moisture to the roots. This blanket can be placed for irrigation on land or within it.

Now that you know of different irrigation systems, it is time to consider an effective one for your garden and crops so that they can save water while having your garden waterfall.

How to avoid a saline soil

The saline soils, especially those extremely saline soils are not good for cultivation. Too much salt can harm our crops and plantations. So the question is Can you avoid a saline soil? Let alone how to prevent saline soils?

The answers are simple: yes you can avoid a saline soil. It's about taking some preventive measures to gradually phase out the salt and the time of culture must also take some remedial measures.

The best way to prevent ground water is saline. It is known that in areas with abundant rainfall, soils are considerably less saline. If you do not live in rainy areas we constantly watering or create a constant risk system that does not depend solely on rainfall.

Another method is to plant species and fertilize the soil is to plant species as this keeps the soil hydrophysical conditions. The plants and crops, especially those who need plenty of water are ideal for reducing soil salinity. In fact, in those saline soils where no vegetation recovery is very difficult, almost impossible.

Use mulch or straw to cover the saline soil is another way to prevent soil moisture from evaporating and thus the increase in salinity.

It is good to improve the drainage in saline soils by continuous and deep tilling and fertilizing the time. This will allow the irrigation water or rainwater to penetrate deeper and thus wash the floor and drag the salts.

It's good to keep away from saline soils to prevent cattle and pastoraje. This can further soil salinity so it is always better to keep animals away from where we want to reduce soil salinity.

Note that not all salts are equal. Some are easier to wash as sodium chloride while others such as magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate are more difficult and takes longer reducing their level. In the latter case, the best thing is that after adding calcium watered down in order to balance the soil and help prevent soil salinity to have more and better crops.

Avoid saline soils requires time, effort and ingenuity but hardly worth starting to see the results: lush vegetation, beautiful plants and crops that are the pride of the area.