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Xeriscaping: Modern Gardening in the Sea to Sky

Sponsored Content

There’s a quiet gardening revolution going on that’s bucking the trend of water-hungry, luscious front lawns and quite literally ‘rocking’ the gardening world.

Xeriscaping 101

“Xeriscaping is about using native and naturalised plants to deal with drought-tolerant places so that you’re getting the most out of your garden when you have the least at your finger tips,” explained Hugo Jackson, Landscape Attendant and Horticulturalist at Coast Aggregates.

Succulents ready for planting

It’s a departure from the luscious green lawns of glossy magazine covers in favour of an architectural landscape with carefully selected plants which need significantly less water.

Benefits

Aside from saving water, one of the major benefits of xeriscaping is that it saves time.

“It’s about getting the most out of your garden using the least amount of effort. Drought-tolerant gardens and low-maintenance gardens usually go hand in hand because if you’re not having to water it you’re not having to go in there and maintain it as often. It’s pretty much left to do its own thing,” said Jackson.

Rock Bed Xeriscape Garden
Rock Bed Xeriscape Garden

Less time pampering your non-natives also means more time spent around the fire pit with friends. It’s a win-win!

Creating your Water-Efficient Landscape

Step One: pH Perfect

Before creating your beautiful, balanced landscape of drought-tolerant plants, the first step, explained Jackson, is to work out what type of garden you want.

“Are you wanting a predominantly acidic-loving garden or an alkaline-loving garden?”

After settling on your selection, the next step is pH test on your soil.

“Find out what pH level you’re sitting at with the native soil, then whether you want it more acidic or more alkaline.

“If you want more alkaline you’ll need to add some lime to your soil. If you want it more acidic then you’d add more of the amender that we sell here.”

While amending your soil, you might want to add additional soil or compost, both of which are available at Coast Aggregates no matter the size of your garden. 

“You could even come in a [tiny hatchback] with a few pails in the back.” said Jackson. “We want to make sure everyone can have access to good soil.”

Step Two: Selecting Your Plants

Fern

You’re not just limited to a back yard of palm trees and prickly pears. Many native plants, such as the Dryopsis fern, are ideally suited for xeriscaping; as are Japanese varieties such as Skimmia japonica and Aucuba japonica which also grow well here, Jackson explained.

Skimmia Japonica

Non-native plants such as dogwoods also thrive in the Squamish climate.

And the biggest gardening fashion, explained Jackson, is grasses. From the Japanese Blood Grass with its purple-red tips, to Mescanthus (commonly known as Elephant Grass) which grows up to three metres tall.

“Grasses are a fantastic way of dealing with drought because they give you good foliage, great form and are good for privacy too.”

Japanese Blood Grass

Step Three: Face the Right Way

“You next need to work out what direction you’re facing. Whether you’re a south-west facing garden, an east facing one…because that will determine the hours of sunlight that you’ll get.”

One way to do this, Jackson explained, is to plant up your varieties in pots, place them on a deck during the early summer and watch the way they track the sun.

Photo: Neslihan Gunaydin

“Once you’ve worked out the direction you’re facing and the hours of sunlight that you get, you can start selecting the locations for your shade loving plants, sun-loving plants and everything in between.”

Step Four: Dig up Some Dirt

After making sure you have adequate drainage (essential, even in drought-tolerant landscapes), and planning out your garden beds, it’s time to get digging.

Cut out your garden beds first, advises Jackson, then mix together some soil and compost amender.

“If you’ve got certain plants that need a full-growing season to be good, then you need to get those in the ground first…so that they got a good season of growth.”

After that you can leave it as is, or add river rock and bark mulch to complete the xeriscaping look.

“The nicest thing about gardening is that you don’t do it all at once,” said Jackson. It’s something that can fit around your budget.

Mulch

Bang on Trend

“Xeriscaping is getting more popular around Squamish. More people are going toward rock gardens, instead of putting lawn in the front of your house…It can look really great,” said Darren Stack, Aggregate and Landscape Sales Manager at Coast Aggregates.

“There’s an Asian influence too,” explained Jackson. “It used to be about English Country Gardens, and now it’s gone structural…Lavish green lawns just aren’t really the direction we need to be going in anymore.”

Succlents

To speak with experts about creating your own drought-tolerant landscape, or about getting the most out of your soil, visit Coast Aggregates online or in person.


Sponsored by Coast Aggregates 

Posted in: GARDEN Tagged: Coast Aggregates, Gardening, Xeriscaping

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I highly recommend working with Alex both as a colleague and as a client

I have had the pleasure of working with Alex over the last couple of years in several different transactions, including one as a colisting partner, which gave me the privilege of seeing both how he works behind the scenes and on the front lines. Alex is an extremely hard worker, he gives every task his

Sophie Squamish June 17, 2018

I would never make a future real estate decision without Scott’s involvement.

Scott gives invaluable real estate advice. Both of his recommendations were spot on. We purchased in the ideal location and at the ideal time. I completely trust his instincts — I would never make a future real estate decision without his involvement.

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I met Scott by chance and he surpassed my expectations of what a realtor is all about and could do for me. Scott took the time to listen and truly understand what I was looking for. He has extensive knowledge of the Squamish area.

Christine M Squamish homes August 10, 2018

Kind, Caring and Knowledgeable

What a complete pleasure it is to work with Scott ! After being here for 6 months it is better than we could have imagined. I couldn’t recommend Scott more, both personally and professionally and some one we will be delighted to work with in the near future.

Jessica W. Squamish homes August 10, 2018

Alex knows Squamish!

As an Ontario resident moving to Squamish, British Columbia, I was very happy with the service provided by Alex Vark. He, personally, took the time to drive us around the area to familiarize us with the town and various neighbourhoods. His knowledge and patience were most helpful. I recommend Alex as your Squamish Realtor!!

Corinne B Squamish homes January 10, 2019

Positive: Professionalism, Responsiveness

We worked with Alex to purchase a home in Squamish last fall. Alex was amazing. We felt like we were his only clients, and we felt like the purchase of the right home was as important to him as it was for us. Whenever we had a question, Alex was always quick to respond! He

Matt Sprunt Squamish Duplex August 1, 2019

“could not have been a more positive experience for us”

Working with Alex could not have been a more positive experience for us. Alex knew exactly what we were looking for and didn’t waste any time finding us the perfect home. Alex is professional, transparent, and clearly very experienced in the world of real estate. We felt like we were working with a friend rather

Lauren McGill & Max Barron Squamish November 17, 2019

We were very proud to have Alex represent us

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We were incredibly pleased with Alex's efforts in helping us find a home suitable to our needs. Our experience with Alex was far more desirable than with our previous realtor, who was foreign to Squamish. He provided us with many options, and was very detailed in his analyses of homes that we showed interest in.

Jess and Matt Squamish Townhome April 24, 2020

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I just finished working alongside Alex as he helped my clients sell their condo in Squamish and buy a beautiful townhouse. Not only did he get them an amazing price for both, he also was extremely professional and quick to respond when questions were asked. It was a pleasure working alongside him, and anyone considering

Dan Squamish September 17, 2020

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MacDonald Realty - Squamish

Scott McQuade

Personal Real Estate Corporation

Scott’s Phone: 604-815-1985
Scott’s Email: scott@squamish.com
Alex’s Phone: 604-848-4997
Alex’s Email: alex@squamish.com

38090 Cleveland Ave
Squamish, BC V8B0A8

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