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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 2015)
PAGE 2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015 HOME & GARDEN Not all landscaping requires a lot of water Xeriscaping provides attractive areas with time and cost benefits DEFINITIONS BY SEAN HART HERMISTON HERALD People who do not want to spend the time and mon- ey watering landscaping features can utilize xeri- scaping techniques to create aesthetically pleasing areas that require little water. Xeriscaping simply means designing an envi- ronment that minimizes the need for water, and nursery manager Gail Redberg said people can choose certain plants that grow well with only natural precipitation, Xeriscaping (zeer-i-skey- ping), noun: environmental design of residential and park land using various methods for minimizing the need for water use. Origin: 1980-85; xer(ic) + (land) scaping. Xeric (zeer-ik), adjective: of, relating to or adapted to a dry environment. --Information from Dictio- nary.com. even in Umatilla County. “Xeriscaping is land- scaping your space with plants that thrive on very little water, and the goal for most people that do xeri- scaping is to be able to have either minimal doses of wa- ter in the hottest part of the WIKI COMMONS PHOTO This picture shows blue fescue, an ornamental grass that can be grown in this region as a candidate for a xeriscaped garden, according to OSU Extension Service. summer or else none at all after they’ve established them,” she said. Redberg, interim nurs- ery manager of the Confed- erated Tribes of the Umatil- la Indian Reservation Tribal Native Plant Nursery, said people can xeriscape all or only a portion of a property, DQGWKH¿UVWVWHSLVWKHVDPH as any landscaping proj- ect: analyzing the aspect, soil and slope of the space and then selecting proper plants. “Usually, in any kind of yard, there are microcli- mates within a landscape, so you might have one side of your house that because of a tree or the way the house is situated on the property that it’s really in fairly deep shade for a portion of the day — you choose the type of plant that suits that loca- tion,” she said. “The other thing (with xeriscaping) is there are some water con- servation tactics. You want to have the opportunity to conserve as much water in your soil as possible.” Redberg said moisture can be conserved by cov- ering the soil with a weed barrier mulch and then cov- ering that with pebbles or bark. According to “An In- troduction to Xeriscaping in the High Desert” by the Oregon State University SEE XERISCAPING/11 Published by the East Oregonian 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 541-276-2211 800-522-0255 © 2015 EO Media Group Stories by the East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald staff Page design by Doug Sanders, EO Media Group You r H om e is an Investm ent We make it possible for homeowners to design, update & remodel beautiful, low-maintenance and energy efficient homes. Whether you are building new, remodeling or weatherizing your home, make sure that you are using quality mat erials and workmanship. Siding Before Make your home maintenance free with quality vinyl, aluminum or steel siding. FREE ES! ESTIMAT After G u tters Eliminate damage to • Foundations • Driveways • Concrete • Decks • Landscaping • Siding 3 styles to choose from, over 30 colors, aluminum, steel, or copper. W indow s Energy efficient windows keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Stop by our showroom! 541-567-2348 • 541-276-0097 • 1-800-265-2348 • 30599 Lauback • Hermiston www.mrinsulation.info mrinsulation@eotnet.net • CCB#97049 • Member N.E.O.H.B.A. As an Energy Trust of Oregon trade ally, we can help you access cash incentives to make it easier to improve your home’s energy efficiency.