Cutting water usage: Consider these seven tips before making changes to lawn and landscape

FALLBROOK – The water crisis facing California is serious and carries imminent environmental, financial, and human impacts. Before one makes drastic changes to their lawn and landscape, the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) offers the following tips to help home and business owners make smart decisions.

Evaluate what exists

Look at the landscape in place currently. Some elements of one's landscape may already be drought-friendly, but others may need to change. Calculate how much water is being used now and how frequently watering is occurring.

Consider environmental and human impacts

Lawns and landscapes offer benefits that mitigate drought impacts. Grass cools the air around a home or building, reduces pollution, limits heat islands, suppresses dust, controls soil erosion and sequesters carbon.

Grass also assists in decomposing pollutants, dissipates heat, lowers allergy-related problems, reduces home cooling costs, and acts as a fire barrier. Importantly, grass serves as a natural filter to potable water supplies, reducing storm water runoff and capturing and filtering precipitation.

Become educated on how lawns and turfgrass respond during a drought

Most people over-water their lawns and assume that if grass is not green, it may be dying. Grass actually goes into a dormant state during a drought. It may look brown, but it’s not dead. If the crowns and root system are intact and have adequate moisture, grass can sustain itself.

Think about the use of the lawn or landscape moving forward

Enjoy backyard barbecues with friends and family? Consider the yard a restful oasis from stress? Or a place for pets and children to romp and run? For employers, a landscape may be a gathering place for employees at break time or a welcoming visual for guests. Consider how the yard/landscape will be used going forward to ensure that any re-designed landscape meets needs.

Seek the advice of lawn and landscape professionals

Getting professional landscape advice has never been more important than now. With a variety of different rules and restrictions at the state and local level, it is important to make sure you are making changes that are in line with the regulations.

A landscape industry certified professional implements best practices, applies up-to-date information, and has a thorough understanding of land stewardship. Landscape professionals are knowledgeable about drought-friendly landscaping. Many landscape companies have water management specialists, as well as professionals educated in sustainable landscape practices.

Install drought-friendly landscaping and change watering practices

There are many drought-friendly landscaping options available, such as drought tolerant low-water native plants. For instance, planting with hydrozones and installing drip irrigation can minimize water usage. There are many ways to make a landscape drought-friendly, enjoyable, and useful.

Determine a plan for going forward

Design a landscape so it can be sustainably maintained, and still be enjoyed and used in the days and months ahead as water restrictions are put in place.

"We are working with our clients to help them understand the emergency water restrictions and how they will impact their landscapes and pocketbooks," said Rajan Brown, director of Resource Management at Heaviland Landscape Management in Vista. "We are providing educational workshops to help clients understand how they can use rebate incentives to renovate water-intensive landscapes to be more drought tolerant and water efficient."

Find a landscape professional and get more tips at www.loveyourlandscape.com.