Water-Conserving Gardens:  A User’s Manual

This manual, which is authored by the Center for the Study of the Built Environment (CSBE), is part of the CSBE project on water-conserving landscapes.  The project is funded by WEPIA (Water Efficiency and Public Information for Action), a program being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Introduction

People often assume that a low-water using landscape has to be barren and dry, and that it is characterized by a predominance of rocks and cacti.  This could not be further from the truth.  Through a series of practices related to water conserving landscapes you can create attractive and sustainable gardens that are lush and colorful, and that also save water and money.  Such practices include using drought tolerant plants, incorporating hardscaped surfaces, taking advantage of rainwater harvesting, as well as following specific maintenance techniques when caring for your plants. 

This manual introduces the various possibilities of water-conserving gardening, and will prove useful whether your garden is small or large, and whether you are creating a new garden or upgrading an existing one.  The manual is divided into seven chapters, each illustrating one of the principles associated with water-conserving landscapes.  In each chapter, you will find clear ideas and easy to follow guidelines that will help you create a beautiful, water-conserving garden.  This manual also includes references to both printed and web-based resources for those who would like to get more in-depth knowledge about the subjects covered in its various chapters.

Click here to download the full English-language manual  (3,946-KB PDF file)

To download any chapter of the English-language manual, please click on the title of the chapter in the manual's table of contents below.

Please note that the manual also is available in Arabic in both digital and printed format.  To download the Arabic-language manual, please follow the link in the Publication section of the Arabic version of the Water Conserving Landscapes section of the CSBE web site.  For more information on the printed format of the manual, please visit the Book Corner section of the CSBE web site.

          

Table of contents

Chapter 1:  Planning and designing your water-conserving garden (735-KB PDF file)

  1. Designing a water-conserving landscape

  2. Identifying the main water-use zones in a garden

  3. Creating microclimates

  4. Renovating an existing landscape

  5. General considerations

Chapter 2:  Creating paved areas in your garden (769-KB PDF file)

  1. Why create paved areas?

  2. Paving materials that are readily available in Jordan

  3. Joints between tiles

  4. General considerations

Chapter 3:  Harvesting rainwater for landscape use (501-KB PDF file)

  1. Why harvest rainwater?

  2. Creating a rainwater harvesting system

  3. Types of rainwater harvesting systems

  4. Components of a rainwater harvesting system

  5. General considerations

Chapter 4:  Selecting plants for your water-conserving garden (587-KB PDF file)

  1. Major functions of plant materials

  2. Appropriate plant selection

  3. Native plants

  4. Safety considerations

  5. Selecting plants at the nursery

  6. Planting in containers

  7. Design tips for plant placement

Chapter 5:  Irrigating your water-conserving garden (291-KB PDF file)

  1. How much water does a plant need?

  2. Types of irrigation systems

  3. General considerations for the creation of an effective irrigation system

Chapter 6:  Mulches (143-KB PDF file)

  1. Why is mulching important?

  2. Types of mulch

  3. Selecting a mulch

  4. Application of mulch

Chapter 7:  Maintaining your water-conserving garden (315-KB PDF file)

  1. Maintenance in a water-conserving landscape

  2. Using fertilizers

  3. Pruning

  4. Weeding and weed control

  5. Insect and disease control

  6. Water-saving maintenance practices

Appendices (230-KB PDF file)

Appendix A:  High water-use plant table

Appendix B:  Tree selection table

Appendix C:  Ornamental selection table

Appendix D:  Native selection table

 

Glossary (62-KB PDF file)

 

References (95-KB PDF file)
   
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