- 1). Cover your grass with black plastic to kill it. Plastic should "cook" the grass over a space of several months to kill it.
- 2). Take soil samples to your local extension office to have them analyzed. Since the point of ground cover used for xeriscaping is to encourage the roots of the plants to grow deep into the soil, you must improve the soil itself. The soil analysis should be able to tell you what amendments your soil will need to grow healthy plants.
- 3). Break up the soil with a roto-tiller. This will turn dead grass into the soil and break up the root systems. Since most lawns are compacted, this will also give the added benefit of aerating the soil. You will have to do this several times over a six-week period.
- 4). Work amendments into the soil with the roto-tiller based on your soil analysis. Amendments may include compost, peat moss or shredded leaves for nitrogen. Lime will make acidic soils more alkaline. Sulfur will lower the alkaline level of soil. Add these amendments sparingly, and only attempt to raise or lower the soil's pH a point at a time.
- 5). Select plants that are adapted to your temperate zone, region and amount of average rainfall.
- 6). Underplant large shrubs with annuals for short-term color as the shrubs become established and grow. Wave petunias are annual ground cover plants that provide summer color.
- 7). Mulch your ground to conserve water and choke out any weeds that try to become established in your garden. Pay close attention to shallow-rooted plants such as azaleas and dogwoods.
- 8). Water newly established trees and shrubs, then shallow-rooted plants followed by established groundcover plants. Water any remaining lawn and annual flowers last.
previous post
next post