Low-maintenance solutions for intermountain regions

Hot temperatures

Cold temperatures

Shorter growing season

Drying winds

Deluge/drought

Poor soil

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Windbreaks

Xeriscaping

Soil amendment

Native plants

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Structures◦ Fences

◦ Walls

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Plants◦ Tree lines

◦ Hedges

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Clouds

Condensationand

Precipitation

Runoff and Percolation

Evaporation

Transpiration

0

50

100

150

200

250

Bru

shin

g t

eeth

Washin

g h

ands

Toilet

flush

Shavin

g

Show

er

(8 m

in.)

Bath

Dis

hw

asher

Dis

hes b

y h

and

Clo

thes w

asher

Law

n (2

0 m

in.)

Serie 1

Serie 2

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Activity Average Conservative

Brushing teeth 2 0.5

Washing hands 2 0.5

Toilet flush 5 2

Shaving 10 1

Shower (8 min.) 20 5

Bath 36 15

Dishwasher 15 7

Dishes by hand 20 5

Clothes washer 40 25

Lawn (20 min.) 200 200

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Planting strategies that conserve water

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No additional watering

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Drip irrigation

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Eastern Washington loses more than 10 tons of soil per acre per year to rainfall runoff

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Tolerate temperature range

Tolerate drought Prevent erosion Support natural

ecosystem Attract pollinators Need little or no

maintenance Sustainable

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0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Minimum Average Maximum

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

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Photos courtesy of Rugged Country Plants