For over a decade, Mary Catesby Halsey has worked as a gardener and floral designer in the New York City area. Today, Mary Catesby Halsey owns and operates MCH Floral Studio, where she specializes in helping clients create environmentally conscious urban gardens and landscapes using techniques such as xeriscaping.
As more people look to preserve natural resources and lessen their overall environmental impact, the practice of xeriscaping continues to build in popularity worldwide. Xeriscaped gardens and landscapes are specifically designed to conserve water, but they also offer other benefits, such as less required maintenance.
Although water-conscious gardening and landscaping have likely been around for as long as people have been practicing agriculture, the Colorado-based water utility Denver Water first coined the term “xeriscape” in the early 1980s. Today’s xeriscaping techniques were born out of a desire to create water-wise, aesthetically appealing landscapes in areas prone to drought. While common misconceptions hold that xeriscaping simply means replacing your lawn with rocks and cacti, there is much more to the practice.
Xeriscaping is based on seven principles that include the use of efficient plants and irrigation, thoughtful landscape planning and design, and appropriate maintenance. The use of grass is limited but not entirely forbidden, and native plants are preferred over nonnative options because the former are better adapted to regional climate variations.
It’s also important to note that xeriscaping is not only for those in arid climates. Regardless of location, those who use this technique can enjoy fewer weeds, less yard maintenance, minimized reliance on pesticides and fertilizers, and reduced spending on yard care, all while having peace of mind in knowing that they are doing something good for the environment.
Mary Catesby Halsey 