NATIVE AND XERISCAPE LANDSCAPING
How can xeriscaping and native landscaping benefit your property? Xeriscaping is a form of landscaping that requires little to no irrigation. This system can help reduce costs associated with installation and maintenance of plants and irrigation systems. Xeriscaping usually utilizes drought-tolerant plants like succulents and plants native to your property’s area. Native landscaping and xeriscaping go hand-in-hand because xeriscaping techniques often utilize native plants to reduce irrigation needs and promote longevity in a landscape. In Commercial Real Estate, landscape design is incredibly important to the overall look and feel of a property. However, the environmental impact of a landscape should be a high consideration as well. Native landscaping and xeriscaping can reduce overall maintenance costs and water usage while simultaneously providing habitats for pollinators and other native species.
common. While some birds may be native to a specific region, the migratory nature of many of these species allows for them to benefit from native plants across many regions. Xeriscaping reduces water use and costs associated with high water usage. “Just by the nature of it being xeriscape you’re going to use less water” adds Sorbet. According to Sorbet, after his organization switched to xeriscaping, their irrigation water usage decreased by 90 percent. Additionally, xeriscaping not only reduces water usage but can also help reduce energy usage as well. The reduction of energy used to treat and deliver water to a property not only saves money but also reduces their carbon footprint. “Something that people don’t take into consideration is that there’s a carbon cost to water usage. Around 2 percent of the of the total electrical consumption in the United States is dedicated to treating and delivering water for domestic, commercial, or industrial use” adds Sorbet.
“It’s a technique that’s employed to reduce your irrigation requirements. Typically, you’re going to use native and adapted plants” says Joe Sorbet, Director of Engineering for Collaborative Real Estate.
Sorbet explains that planting drought tolerant or low maintenance trees provides shade which in turn can reduce a building’s air conditioning use. He also adds that the trees and shrubs help improve the air quality in the building’s area.
Environmental Impact
Costs
Using native plants in xeriscaping reduces maintenance costs and encourages landscaping professionals to utilize native plants. Native plants are enormously beneficial to pollinators like honeybees and butterflies.
The largest expense associated with transitioning to a xeriscape landscape is removing your current landscape to plant drought resistant or native plants. Altering your irrigation system to accommodate less need for water like a drip irrigation system can also be a large expense.
Other native wildlife such as various bird species benefit from native plants as food sources and shelter. Birds and native plants have a symbiotic relationship because the native species provide food and shelter, and the native birds help pollinate and spread seeds of native plants. In the Southeastern region of the United States, Wood-Storks, Chuck-Will’s-Widows, and Swainson’s Warblers are a few native bird species. In the Southwestern United States, California Condors, Brown-Capped Finches, and Black Rosy-Finches are
These alternative sprinkler systems will save water as conventional sprinkler systems allow evaporation to take place, resulting in an ineffective use of water while drip irrigation targets lower areas on the plant to help prevent evaporation. After installation costs, xeriscape landscapes need little maintenance because they do not need regular watering or usually any watering at all. Xeriscaping and native landscaping saves time, money, water, energy, and more. CRE Landscaping Guide | August 2022
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