That's a fancy title for the very simple procedure of growing healthy lawns and gardens with less water. This year might really put us to the test - with very little snowfall over the winter and the possibility of a dry summer ahead, we may all have to consider how we can conserve water in our gardens.

In planning your home's landscaping, a Xeriscape approach involves increasing the proportion of low water use plantings surrounded by mulch to reduce moisture loss. Successful watering of plants helps, too, and involves making sure that all the water reaches the plants' roots. Watering the foliage may cause sun burn and disease in your garden. If done properly, watering once a week should be plenty.

Your most effective watering methods include:

• Drip Irrigation - For deep root watering of gardens and trees, this method is best. Using porous tubing with baffled openings, you can allow water to drip onto the areas where the plant needs water most. Drip irrigation uses about 25% to 75% less water than most other methods.
• Plastic Buckets - Puncture a 5/16" hole on two sides of each of two 20 litre (5 gallon) plastic pails, and place them against the base of a mature tree. Fill with water to achieve a slow drip. Do this once or twice a month to help with stress related to dry conditions.
• Sprinkler Heads - Low rise sprinkler heads work well for lawn watering, and if placed near driveways and sidewalks should be adjusted to spray on the lawn area only.
• Watering Cans - Hand-held watering works really well as long as you're sure to direct the water to the roots only and not the foliage.

If possible, water your garden early in the morning to reduce evaporation and give the water a good chance to soak into the soil. As a second choice, water in the early evening, so the plants can absorb the water before dew conditions set in. Watering late at night may encourage rot.

Consider alternative plantings to traditional lawns, such as Perennial Rye Grasses, Madagascar Periwinkle (good for slopes), Native Strawberry Plants, Potentilla, Snow-in-Summer and Moss Pink (Phlox subulata). You might want to plant one or more of these alternative choices in areas bordering on concrete or asphalt.

During dry summer conditions, lawns may turn brown and go dormant, which means they have slowed or stopped growth. A natural condition, this does not mean the lawn is dead. Once normal rainfall resumes, the lawn will recover in a month or so. When you do water your lawn, do it slowly, checking to see that the water is soaking in and not running off. You can check your local regulations to determine the best or permitted days and hours for watering.

Using mulch, or a protective cover surrounding the base of your plants, is a great way to help retain moisture in gardens and reduce water needs. Some excellent mulch materials are grass clippings, wood chips, bark chips, manure and compost. These materials will also break down and enhance the growth of your plants. Mulch is particularly important for lawns under trees, which are hard to mow and require large amounts of water.

Tip: Collect rain water in a barrel or tub to use in your garden. Locate your container under the drain spout of your eaves trough for a handy, FREE supply of natural rain water. Keep a cover on the container when not in use in order to keep out insects and prevent evaporation.