In my first article for this storyline I discussed several simple steps that individuals can implement to reduce their water consumptions.  To read more about simple conservation tips, please click on the green storyline tab and select the article titled, "The Crisis."  However, in this time of crisis immediate action is a necessary step, so it is also useful to consider the more drastic methods of conservation, such as drought-resistant landscaping.

Outdoor residential water use accounts for 21 percent of all urban water use, according to the Pacific Institute, an environmental research group located in the East Bay.  Activities included under this umbrella term of "Residential Outdoor" water use are landscaping, hosing down walkways and driveways (though this is discouraged by city water officials), and recreational use like swimming pools.   

Landscaping is the most water demanding among these activities.  It accounts for over 50 percent of residential water expenditure, according to a brochure published by the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities.  That luscious green is beautiful, but it demands an immense amount of our valuable, and dwindling, supply of water.  In fact, a traditional lawn of 1,000 square feet requires about 2 inches of water per week, amounting to 100,000 gallons of water per year.   

An increasingly popular alternative to the traditional lawn-centered landscape is dry landscaping, or "xeriscaping."  By using drought-resistant and native plants, groundcovers, rocks and smart landscape design, xeriscaping aims to drastically reduce the amount of water needed for landscapes.   Many people have misinterpreted the term "xeriscape" to mean "zero-scape", where use of greenery is limited, leaving landscapes looking barren.  This is not an accurate interpretation of the goals of xeriscaping.  Dry landscapes can be very aesthetically pleasing when executed properly.  Other benefits of xeriscaping include pesticide freedom, supporting native eco-systems, and reducing the amount of maintenance required.   

In addition to native plants, there are some other landscaping options that will help save water.  For example, Eco-Lawn is a blend of organic, wild meadow grasses that requires little water and infrequent mowing.  The company that produces Eco-Lawn, Wildflower Farm, claims that it uses 75 percent less water than a traditional lawn and needs to be mowed only once a month to maintain a neat appearance.  An Eco-Lawn of 1,000 square feet uses only 25,600 gallons a year, which is 1/4 of the water needed for the traditional lawn.   

On the Wildflower Farm Web site, there is a chart that compares total costs for installing and maintaining a traditional lawn compared to an Eco-Lawn over 10 years.  If their claims are accurate, consumers could save about $1,900 in the first year and about $6,500 over the full 10 years.    

Tom Larson, a former member of the Nursury Growers Association of California, created a list of ideas for a California-friendly landscape that can be easily implemented.  Larson points out that it is the soil and the microorganisms in the soil that are responsible for a healthy plant, not the fertilizers that we put into the soil.  Larson advises gardeners to avoid chemical fertilizers, which often kill these organisms, and to feed their soil with compost, fish emolsion, and organic fertilizers.   

Two other suggestions he offers are adding mulch between plants to keep the ground cool and limit evaporation, and to compost.  Composting reduces green waste and feeds your soil at the same time!    

Going lawnless or using alternative breeds like the wild grasses of Eco-Lawn requires considerably less labor for maintenance, saves water and money, and helps to reduce the damage of drought on our earth.  The California Department of Water Resources and the University of California Cooperative Extension have put out a 160-page document that describes, at great length, how to calculate water needs for specific landscapes and how to plan a landscape with a particular water-use goal in mind.  A quick internet search also turns up hundreds of great articles about how to get started on converting your yard to drought-friendly species and design.     

Do you have a dry landscape?  How much water do you save?  Are you pleased with the appearance of your yard?  Do you compost your green waste?  I want to hear about your experience with xeriscaping.  Please add your comments and questions in the conversation space below.