If you are planning to reduce your landscape watering needs, please understand the difference between "Xeriscape" and "Zeroscape". PCVA encourages xeriscaping, not barren rock yards. The Community Guidelines include an approved plant palette and even a dedicated Xeriscape Planting section with recommended low-water trees, shrubs, and perennials. See the Community Guidelines at https://www.pcva.org/uploads/7/8/8/7/78875826/pcva_guidelines_with_addendums_-_december_2023.pdf
Xeriscape is a landscaping method that reduces water use while still using living plants. The name comes from the Greek word xeros, meaning "dry."
Typical features include:
- Native or drought-tolerant plants
- Ornamental grasses
- Flowering perennials
- Shrubs and trees
- Mulch to retain moisture
- Decorative boulders
- Efficient drip irrigation
- Limited areas of turf grass
Zeroscape isn't an official landscaping term. People generally use it to describe a yard that consists of:
- Mostly gravel or rock
- Few or no plants
- Little or no irrigation
- Rocks absorb and radiate heat, making the yard much hotter.
- It provides little habitat for birds and pollinators.
- Weeds still grow unless maintained.
- It can actually increase water needs for the few remaining plants because of reflected heat.
In practice, the Modifications Committee generally looks for landscapes that:
- Include a variety of approved living plants.
- Balance rock or mulch with vegetation.
- Provide visual interest and neighborhood compatibility.
- Conserve water without creating an expanse of decorative rock only
Examples in pictures:
Zeroscape Xeriscape
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