Select plant materials unlikely to be stressed by adverse environmental conditions. Healthy, vigorous plants are usually more tolerant of insect feeding and less susceptible to plant diseases. By contrast, stressed plants often provide a more favorable environment for insect pests and plant pathogens. Weed control in these landscapes is a minor concern. Most weeds are best adapted to moist or saturated soil conditions which are not prevalent in a water conserving landscape.
Weed control is also a reward for mulching.
1. Plan carefully, identify how various factors affect each other to solve problems while they are still fairly simple. Use multiple criteria when selecting and locating plants, especially lawn grasses. Plan for zone watering and regularly check your irrigation equipment and placement. After all you have invested in planning, money, and labor, take care of what you have created. A landscape is a living whole whose many parts must be regularly evaluated and nurtured.