Drip-Irrigation Detail

As shown here, this detail clearly labes elements used in the pipe-line of a drip-irrigation system. This inclueds the materials in the soil, as well as, the type and size of the pipes used.

The basic materials used in a backyard for the landscape are grass, compacted soil, loose gravel, then the earths natural soil

Xeriscape

Xeriscape is a form of backyard design that mainly focuses on the conservation of water. Landsacpe designers are always looking for possibilities to reduce the amount of water applied to a backyard in order to maximize the use of natural percipitation. Some of the key things to focus on when thinking about Xeriscape Design is, soil improvement, limiting turf areas, appropriate plants, mulch and irrigation. When talkin about Soil Improvement, the main purpose is for the soil to do two things, drain excess water quickly, and store water at the same time. This can be achieved by increasing the amount of organic materials in your soil, and as well as, keeping it well aerated. This will allow your plants to flurish properly and efffeciently.
Irrigation is the next key essential part with incorperating Xeriscape design. By applying water directly to the roots of the plants, it reduces the waste. By using such irrigation systems like Drip-Irrigation (previously talked about in my earlier post), it delivers water at a really slow rate, which allows the proper root absorption and reduces pooling around plants
Finally using Mulch around plants is another way to reduce maintenance and over all costs of your backyard. By placing Mulch around the base of the plants, it hels to reduce erosion, and blocks out un-derired weeds that can grow. Organic Mulch will eventually incorporate in with the soil, which goes back to the topic of improving your soil conditions

Limiting your Irrigation

Using plants and trees that require minimal amounts of water to survive is a great way to reduce the footprint that is accumulated over the years by traditional plants in your yard. Choosing the right irrigtation system is essential in achieving an Eco-Friendly backyard. A Drip Irrigation systems (micro-irrigation systems) deliver water directly to your plants with the least amount of waste. According to The Colorado State University, Drip Irrigation systems are around 90 percent efficient, whereas traditional sprinkle systems are only around 50-70 percent efficient. Drip Irrigation uses a network of plastic pipes (PVC pipes) to carry a low flow of water under low peasure to the roots of plants. This allows the least amount of water needed to arrive at the plants, with the least amount of waste.

www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/Garden

Suggestions to Create an Eco-Friendly Backyard

When we think about Green Design when creating homes, we often forget that the landscape plays a major roll in the cost reduction of a house, as much as the actual design of it does. By using plants that are native to that area, they would require less maintenance as well as, they would use less water conspumtion. Even using deciduous trees around the house can help reduce the cost of air cooling, due to the fact that the trees provide excelent shade from the sun's powerfull rays. Depending on the location of the house or building, you can even save money by planting thick tall coniferous trees to help block the cold winds. There are many ways to reduce the cost of a house by using good old mother nature.

Benifits of Composting

I have learned that composting is one of the greatest things a person can do for the well-being of their backyards, as well as, for the earth. Composting is a process that occurs in nature that keeps organic nutrients cycling between already used materials back into the ground. Composting has many great benifits such as improving soild moisture retention, reducing the amount of waste brought to city landfills, and even reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

Since the earth benieth your backyard is made up a perfectly balanced compound of soil, moisture and nutrients, as soon as you plant trees, shrubs, grass, ect, the balance between these components are no longer balanced. The amount of nutrients that certain plants obsorb from the ground has to be replaced one way or another, and by composting, your only helping the earth re-plenish these lost nutrients.