Xeriscape

 So… you’re throwing in the towel and had enough of mowing the lawn on Saturday’s eh? Just kidding, how could you get tired of that? We all know for how cold the winters are in Winnipeg, the summers can be a complete sauna. Which makes it difficult to keep your plants and lawn healthy. With constant upkeep it can get a bit monotonous. Constant watering can put a strain on your water bill and your weekends.

Well we have great news for you: Xeriscaping can reduce your water usage and your time spent actually tending to your yard. While still keeping your front or back yard the talk of the block. But if you're looking for more ways to keep your yard eco-friendly while still maintaining its appeal, our Sustainable Landscaping Ideas is a must-read. Xeriscaping is a compromise between beauty and your love of the earth. It’s less about lawns and more about saving the planet.

What is Xeriscaping? Check out the details here Xeriscape

We know it can be tough to think of removing your traditional lush green lawn, but consider this: suppose you put a well designed but minimalistic rock garden in a small area of your backyard. That could add a lot of depth to your yard by actually accentuating the greenery that is already there!

Here are a few ideas from projects we have done around Winnipeg, starting with the aforementioned...

Rock Gardens

The benefits of a rock garden are very appealing, especially to busy families. They are super low maintenance – no more watering the garden, pruning flowers or weeding the yard. They survive in every environment which makes them look great all year until the snow covers it.

They also diversify your yard and make it look larger. Fill in empty spaces with smaller rocks to make your yard feel full. Combine this with larger stones and tiny pebbles to create depth and diversity.

Garden Steps and Pathways



Unlike steps on the inside of your home consider garden steps as a design feature rather than an access point. If you make your garden steps the width of the terrace it will emphasize the horizontal surfaces and increase the sense of space in the garden.

A very general rule of thumb is a 15cm maximum riser and 30cm minimum tread depth.

Outdoor Living Areas

Expand the livable area of your home and liven up the exterior as well with outdoor seating areas and fire pits. While this does lessen the need to be watering thirsty ground cover plants, it can tie everything together and your home and outdoor aesthetically.

Mix in Some Mulch

When used in low water landscaping mulch is a must. It helps the water retention in your soil by creating a barrier between your plant roots and the sun rays. It slows evaporation which keeps your plants from overheating. Even better: it is a bio degradable and eco-friendly way to incorporate a nice backdrop to make your landscape design stand out.

The number one tip we can give is to use plants with low water needs that are native to Manitoba. Finding these plants and adding them to your landscape design ensures they will thrive in the natural rainfall and water around them. In turn this will lower your water bills and require less maintenance. Find more native plants here. Winnipeg’s native plants