| Vol. 7 | No. 2 | Spring 2005 |
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The Water-Wise Lawn |
For many homeowners, the space around their house is as important as the space inside. Indeed, millions of dollars are spent each year keeping lawns neat, green, and healthy. But lawn care doesn’t just require money; it requires water—a lot of it. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about one-third of outdoor water use in the United States goes toward lawn care. And when a specific area of the country is experiencing drought conditions, lawn care places additional stress on available water supplies.
Conserving water doesn’t mean having to abandon your lawn. With some smart landscaping techniques, you can save the water, time, and money spent on your yard while increasing its natural beauty.
Smaller Is Better
Chances are you maintain more of your lawn than you actually use every day. If your lawn is an unbroken sea of grass, consider planting trees, shrubs, and perennial flowers and low-growing ground covers. These attractive, less water-intensive alternatives to grass provide the additional benefit of bringing birds, butterflies, and other wildlife to your yard.
The best place to start is areas of your lawn where grass is hard to grow or maintain in the first place, such as wet, shady, or steeply sloped areas, or spots where the soil is sandy or rocky. When choosing alternative ground cover, look for non-invasive plants; many native plants are non-invasive as well, and are naturally adapted to the regional climate. (For a list of plants appropriate for your region, visit the National Wildlife Federation website at www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/nativeplants.cfm.) You can save additional time and water by planting a limited number of varieties and grouping them by size and water need.
Go without the Green
In the warm summer months, you can water less often by mowing the grass high. Longer grass blades not only shade the soil (which helps retain moisture and promotes deeper roots), but also block out sun-loving weeds. During periods of extended heat, consider letting part of your lawn go brown—it might not look pretty, but it will save a significant quantity of water. The dormant grass will green back up as the weather turns cooler and wetter.
When the time comes to reseed your lawn, take a look at what you’re growing and where you’re growing it. Grass varieties vary widely in their need for water and sun, so it’s important to plant the right type for your yard. Avoid water-intensive varieties such as bluegrass and ryegrass; look for drought-resistant varieties such as fescue and bermuda instead.
Don’t Waste a Drop
Your new, low-maintenance lawn will probably still need some water during the hottest months—you’ll know it’s thirsty when the grass doesn’t spring back up after you step on it. In general, a lawn will need one or two inches of water per week.
Monitor your sprinkler use to avoid overwatering. If you have automatic sprinklers, install a sensor that will shut them off during rainstorms. And with any sprinkler, be sure to position it so it doesn’t water the driveway or sidewalk.
To learn more about water-conserving lawn care, visit the Natural Resources Conservation Service website at www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/watercon.html.
Also in this issue of Earthwise:
Dialogue
The news media recently reported on the consequences of global warming in the Arctic region. How will these changes affect people who live farther south?
