New Mexico has a dry arid climate with very little rainfall, which means every little drop counts. If you want a drought-tolerant landscape, this xeriscaping guide for New Mexico homeowners is for you.
From native plants to drip irrigation, you can create the perfect outdoor oasis that is every bit as appealing as a lush green lawn. Let’s get started.
What is Xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping is an attractive, eco-friendly, low-maintenance landscape method that requires minimal watering. It involves replacing some or all of the lawn with drought-tolerant plants, rocks, mulch, and efficient irrigation.
Also known as “smart scaping,” xeriscaping uses native and other low-water grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees to conserve water and reduce watering costs by 50% while promoting biodiversity.
Xeriscaping Ideas for New Mexico
Want to xeriscape your New Mexico lawn but don’t have any idea where to start? Here are some xeriscaping ideas for your yard:
Plan Out Your Zones
To start creating your xeriscaped lawn, you will need to plot and design your layout so you have a plan for where everything should go. The best way to do that is to organize your lawn into zones:
- Zone 1: Also known as the “arid zone,” this is the zone furthest away from your home. Here, you should feature your most drought-tolerant plants, mainly native plants that don’t need much supplemental watering. You can direct rainwater to this part of the landscape by contouring your lawn.
- Zone 2: This is your “transition zone,” where you should place all of your water-efficient plants that require more watering than your arid zone plants. This area blends in the arid plants with the more lush parts of the landscape.
- Zone 3: This zone should have lush, closely placed plants that require the most water to create a “mini-oasis.” Try to locate this zone at the base of a slope where rainwater collects or on the north or east sides of the house, where it’s cooler and shadier.
Choose Adaptive or Native Plants
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Plants that thrive in full sun with little water are great for xeriscaping, and New Mexico is full of adaptive and native plants that are accustomed to the area’s climate.
The area of New Mexico you are in (north/mountain, central, south) will determine what plants you should choose for each zone. This New Mexico xeriscaping guide has a detailed list of what plants work best for each zone, but here are some common adaptive and native plants in the state:
Perennials:
- Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea)
- Aster (Aster spp.)
- Blue mist flower (Conoclinium greggii)
Shrubs:
- English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Desert cassia (Senna nemophila)
- Fairy duster (Calliandra eriophylla)
- Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
- Wood’s rose (Rosa woodsii)
Trees:
- Bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum)
- Blue atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’)
- Bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata)
- Cork oak (Quercus suber)
- Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)
- Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)
- New Mexico olive (Forestiera neomexicana)
Cacti and succulents:
- Century plant (Agave americana)
- Prickly pear (Opuntia spp.)
- Spanish dagger (Yucca aloifolia)
Vines:
- Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
- Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans)
- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Install Drip Irrigation
A drip irrigation system lightly irrigates your plants with slow, low-pressure drops instead of rapidly spraying them with water. It is popular with plant nurseries and farmers because it is much more efficient than a traditional sprinkler system. Homeowners planning a xeriscape in their yards also find that drip irrigation is often worth the investment.
If you are worried about how it might affect the aesthetic of your xeriscape, never fear! Drip irrigation systems are available in several shapes and sizes, including:
- Traditional drip irrigation: A system of tubes and emitters that apply water to the surface of the soil or directly to the roots.
- Bubblers: These are small emitters stuck in the ground attached to irrigation tubes that can deliver water across about a 3-inch radius.
- Micro-misters: An above-ground system that gently sprays a mist around the base of the plants.
- Soaker hoses: A porous length of hose that you can attach to your faucet or spigot. Once the water is turned on, water seeps out of the hose and into the soil.
Choose the Right Mulch
Mulching will minimize evaporation, keep the soil cool, reduce weeds and erosion, and protect your plants as they mature. They also give your landscape a nice texture and can complete the overall aesthetic. Mulch options for your xeriscape include:
- Bark chips
- Gravel
- Wood chips
- Cedar chips
- Sawdust
- Compost
- Pine needles
- Shells
- Rubber mulch
- Grass clippings (Reasons to Use Grass Clippings as Mulch)
- Dead leaves
- Landscape fabric (Landscape Fabric Types and Uses)
To ensure effective coverage, apply a 3-4 inch thick layer of mulch around your plants and cover the entire surface of the root zone.
Organic mulches degrade over time and will need to be replaced every year or two. However, when they break down, they provide more nutrients to the soil.
Harvest Rainwater
By placing rain barrels at the base of your gutters or near your roof where water is most likely to run off, you can successfully harvest, recycle, and conserve rainwater to use in your garden throughout times of drought, saving you money on water bills.
One thousand square feet of roof can shed more than 500 gallons of water per inch of rain, so each rain barrel you place needs to hold at least 200 gallons of water.
If you’re worried about your rain barrels standing out too much, you can hide them behind tall decorative plants or trellises. Be sure to create a fine mesh cover for your rain barrels so that you aren’t also harvesting mosquitoes.
New Mexico has no laws restricting rainwater harvesting. In fact, cities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe offer monetary incentives to their residents for collecting rainwater.
Add Hardscapes
Photo credit: Field Outdoor Spaces / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Adding hardscapes to your lawn can downsize your lawn, reducing the amount of watering and maintenance needed to keep it lush and healthy throughout the year.
Examples of hardscapes you can incorporate into your lawn include:
- Decks
- Pergolas
- Patios
- Fire pits
- Retaining walls
- Stone pavers
- Walkways
Hardscapes can raise your curb appeal and create a comfortable place to relax and enjoy your xeriscaped lawn.
Plant Drought-Tolerant Grasses and Ground Covers
If your New Mexico lawn has been struggling with heat stress, you can create a lawn that thrives on very little water and maintenance by replacing your current lawn with drought-tolerant grasses or ground covers. The best drought-tolerant grass seeds for New Mexico are:
- Bermudagrass
- Blue grama
- Buffalograss
- Fine fescue
- Kentucky bluegrass
- St. Augustinegrass
- Tall fescue
- Zoysiagrass
Ground covers are the way to go if you want to ditch grass entirely. Ground covers are aggressive, low-growing plants that take over the space they are in, competing with other plants to cover the ground like a carpet.
These are a few of the ground covers recommended for New Mexico xeriscapes:
- Creeping mahonia (Mahonia repens)
- Hen and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)
- Horned violet (Viola cornuta)
- Roundleaf horehound (Marrubium rotundifolium)
- Ground morning glory (Convolvulus mauritanicus)
- Mexican evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa)
- Purple iceplant (Delosperma cooperi)
- Wooly speedwell (Veronica incana)
- Verbena (Verbena peruviana)
Design a Rock Garden
Rock gardens are a great addition to your xeriscape because they are beautiful and require very little maintenance since they don’t need to be watered, fertilized, or mowed. But you will have to weed occasionally.
You can also decorate them with succulents, cacti, and sedum to add a pop of color and variety while still conserving water. Making a rock garden can also be fairly affordable since rocks come in many shape and size options.
Pea gravel costs $25 to $67 per cubic yard or $4 to $7 per bag. Rocks and boulders cost $50 to $130 per ton.
How Much Does Xeriscaping Cost in New Mexico?
The national cost of xeriscaping ranges from $15,120 to $18,400, averaging $17,000. But that’s for professional installation. If you plan to DIY, the total cost for materials can range between $1,288 to $4,317.
In New Mexico, the cost of professional installation may range from $1 to $4 per square foot, depending on the complexity of the job.
FAQ About Xeriscaping in New Mexico
How Can I Conserve Water Outdoors During a Drought?
Outside of xeriscaping and rainwater harvesting, there are several water conservation tips to keep in mind during a New Mexico drought:
- Check for leaks inside and outside of the home.
- Keep faucets and showerheads at low-flow.
- Irrigate your lawn in the morning.
- Only run full loads of dishes and laundry.
How Can I Prepare My Yard for Xeriscaping?
Here is how you can start preparing your yard for your xeriscaping project:
- Clean the grass and weeds out of your yard. Sheet mulching can smother a large area of weeds or grass without chemicals.
- Take a soil test to determine your soil’s pH.
- Add soil amendments to improve drainage.
- Gather all boulders, rocks, and wood pieces you can find to add to your design.
How Do You Save Money on Your Xeriscape?
You can save money by using free mulch and organic or homemade fertilizer for your soil. To save money on plants, ask your friends and neighbors for spare seeds and plant divisions.
Hire a Pro
Planning out and maintaining your xeriscaped lawn can be tough. If you could benefit from an expert, LawnStarter will connect you with New Mexico landscaping expert today. Whether you’re in Albuquerque, Las Cruces – or anywhere else in the great state of New Mexico – LawnStarter can connect you with passionate lawn care and landscaping pros with helpful advice.
Main Image Credit: teofile / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
