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    • Home
    • About Us
    • Practicing Resiliency
    • Events
    • Issues and Initiatives
    • Contact Us
    • Garden Tour
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Practicing Resiliency
  • Events
  • Issues and Initiatives
  • Contact Us
  • Garden Tour

Gregg and Wendy's Xeriscape Makeover

This example represents another effort by the homeowners to convert a grass lawn to a more beautiful and waterwise landscape.

Aerial view of a residential property outlined in blue among neighboring houses.

Pre-makover

 

Before the makeover, Gregg and Wendy's front yard was mostly a grass lawn, juniper bushes and shade planting areas. The boulevard plantings included vinca, lavender, oregano, and grasses.

Landscape execution

They worked with Gardenwerks to convert to xeriscape in 2024. The conventional (bluegrass) lawn was removed and a small area was planted with red fescue, a native grass with low watering and minimal mowing requirements.

Friendly plants

 About 400 new plants improved visual interest and increased pollinator and natural habitat. Hummingbirds, in particular, have been attracted to the flowering plantings.

Paths and boulders

Paths and boulders

Water permeable access paths with flagstone accents and granite boulders were added.

Drip irrigation

Paths and boulders

Drip irrigation

The xeriscape project eliminated manual watering and included an irrigation system (intended to be used for the first three years until the plantings were established) customized for individual plants.

Gregg and Wendy's Plantings

Plants

  • sunset hyssop (attracts hummingbirds)
  • spiderwort
  • terra cotta yarrow
  • blue fortune hyssop
  • echinacea
  • ornamental oregano
  • penstemon
  • allium
  • brunera
  • lamium
  • anemone
  • iris
  • hardy geraniums
  • catmint

Grasses

  • Japanese forest grass
  • Idaho fescue
  • Pennsylvania sedge
  • blue oatgrass
  • tufted hair grass
  • 'Karl Foerster' feather reed grass

Bushes

  • dwarf mugo
  • potentilla
  • bugbane
  • rabbitbrush
  • fernbush
  • false indigo
  • goats beard

Trees

  • Russian hawthorne

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P.O. Box 1445 Helena, MT 59624 USA

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