Catharine Wasiak Photography:Baron PhotoGraphics

YOU NEED TO KNOW UP FRONT-I'M A LAZY GARDENER. I want a yard that looks good, but don't want to spend a lot of time and energy on it. I'm also frugal so don't want to spend a bundle on watering or purchasing annuals each year.

Our gardening adventures began almost 10 years ago, when we bought a new house with something euphemistically called an RV parking space in the back. In reality it was a bleak yard of fill dirt with about two cups of gravel scattered on top. Starting from scratch involved planning, preparing, purchasing, planting and patience-lots of patience. The concept of working with the environment made sense, especially given the lazy and frugal premises. Choosing plants that like the weather in Lethbridge and planting techniques that conserve water seemed like the smart way to go. This simple idea has a fancy name, xeriscaping, which basically means working in harmony with the environment to conserve water.

Step one is careful planning. Taking the time to research and draw a plan for your yard saves untold hours of redoing or an eternity of regret. We thought about how we wanted to use our yard and started with where to put hardscaping elements including decorative rocks, patios and firepits, then decided about large trees and shrubs, and finally placed perennial fill plants and self-seeding annuals. In the backyard we included a small patch of grass, which my husband Ed loves because it takes six minutes to cut. In the front, we didn't bother with grass at all. When was the last time you saw anyone actually using their front lawn? Usually you just see people mowing, edging, weeding and fertilizing it.

While plants that do not need additional water would be best for the environment, in reality some extra water is needed, especially for young plants. We installed a drip system, which minimizes waste because the water is directed to specific plants through a series of lines and nozzles. This also reduces weeds because water isn't splashed everywhere.

For the full story pick up the current issue of Lethbridge living Magazine