The Neophyte’s Steps to Xeriscape in Albuquerque

Save water without sacrificing greenery

Named locally in the 1980s in Colorado, “xeriscaping” means saving water without sacrificing greenery. Having a lush garden in Albuquerque’s semi-arid climate is no good for the environment—or your wallet. But you don’t have to go full rock garden to conserve. Follow these easy steps from local experts to start xeriscaping!

1. Survey the Yard

Owner of R&S Landscaping, Robert Kapinsky, recommends thinking about how water collects in your yard before you plant anything. Water travels downhill, so greenery needing more hydrations will typically perform better in lower areas. Place hardier plants uphill and in south and west facing beds, which get more sun.

2. Prep Your Soil

Soil in Albuquerque is typically sandy or clay-filled and not conducive to deep root growth. Kapinsky recommends that homeowners use a rototiller to dig in compost such as aged manure, into the ground. This process increases the soil’s water-holding capacity and promotes root growth. Kapinsky notes, when “Sprinklers to not have be counted on when a drought is happening when plants have deep roots far below the top of a plant.”

3. Choose the Right Plants

Each flower, shrub, and tree has slightly different needs. Kapinsky explains, “If one plant needs more water than another, don’t place the two plants next to each other. If you, do it that way, you’re making it more resource and time intensive, and the plants aren’t going to be happy either.” (See plant picks below.)

Choose me!

Six flora spotlights from the Rocky Mountain Region and Great Plains states featuring different colors, heights, and flourishing at high altitudes.

1. Granita Raspberry Ice Plant

Blooming all season at 1 or 2 inches tall: vibrant and densely packed pink flowers

2. Corsican Violet

A perennial growing 6 to 8 inches tall: Corsican violet flowers for the full season

3. Spanish Gold Broom

A shrub that grows 3 to 4 feet tall when it has good drainage: vibrant yellow flowers during the spring

4. Korean Feather Reed Grass

A perennial ornamental grass that grows up to 3 feet tall: beautiful white feathers that turn gold in the fall

5. Desert Moss

An evergreen that grows 1 inch high and expands on the ground 10 to 14 inches: a great year-round ground cover

6. Bridges’ Penstemon

A perennial that grows up to 3 feet tall and tolerates full sun: deer-resistant, scarlet trumpet-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds