Did you know that approximately 60% of water usage goes toward watering landscapes, especially lawns.
We are in an exceptional drought that may well prove to be the new normal. We need to get our act together and stop pouring gallons of potable water on to our lawns.
In reality, if your lawns die from lack of water, even better! Because that dead grass can be more easily removed and you can begin the important task of creating an oasis of native plants, including native grasses and adapted turf that use far less water than St. Augustine or Bermuda lawns.
Bonus: native plants are a huge draw for butterflies, hummingbirds and other wildlife and generally need way less supplemental water than non-natives. AND you do not have to fertilize native plants because they are generally tolerant of our poor soil. Woohoo!
Okay, I get it when you recoil in horror at the thought of letting your lawn die. Maybe you can carve out a small area, a place where the kids and pups can play. Keep that space in lawn and then design around that space.
Water with rainwater you catch by putting a big barrel under a downspout. I know it hasn’t really rained in awhile but be prepared for when it does. Set that barrel in place and put a filter in the top so that leaves and junk do not clog your barrel. I use an old plastic planting pot as my filter. Usually those come with just a few holes in the bottom. You still have to empty it occasionally but that is not much work at all.
Happy Planting!
Deb