Landscaping Ideas To Support Water Conservation
The necessity for active water conservation is now a reality. In California, legislature has been passed that places the responsibilities of water conservation squarely on the shoulders of residents and businesses. As water shortages continue to develop across the country, you can be proactive in preparing your home landscape to support water conservation.
Begin with small changes.
As you reconcile yourself with the fact that grass is no longer a luxury that water shortage areas can afford, you'll want to replace your lawn with something else. However, digging up your entire lawn in one day isn't wise, because aesthetically pleasing landscaping takes time, and you don't want to be stuck with a dirt front yard for weeks or months.
Begin with a small area of your lawn. It's a good idea to start with an area nearest your house and work your way outward, toward the street. Have your replacement supplies on hand. Dig up small patches of grass with a shovel, making sure you get the roots. Be prepared to dispose of the grass patches somewhere environmentally friendly. As you finish one small area, you can work on the next, and so on.
Choose materials you like.
There are lots of replacement lawn coverings. You don't have to get stuck with something you don't enjoy looking at. Some of the attractive options that are available include:
- Boulders
- Wood chips
- Mulch
- Gravel
- River rocks
- Desert plants like flowering cactus
- Outdoor furnishings like benches, bird feeders, mini bridges, etc.
- Pavers
- Artificial turf
- Arbors/gazebos
All these materials and furnishings can be mixed and matched to create an outdoor oasis that you may have previously not imagined to be possible.
Compromise on something.
You don't have to give up every kind of greenery. You can compromise by having something green growing that requires some water, but that offers something valuable in return. For instance, you might like to plant a small raised bed vegetable garden, or install a vertical vegetable garden alongside your patio. Both of these can be watered with a drip irrigation system that will use very little water.
To get the most out of the little water available, you can water your plants with gray water, which is the term for the secondary water from your home. Examples of gray water include water drained from your washing machine and water saved in a basin after rinsing fruits and vegetables in the kitchen.
Landscaping that incorporates water conservation concepts can be even more attractive than a plain grass lawn. Try it and see! Visit a landscaping company like Superior Lawn and Landscape today.
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