Go “green” with Your Green
Best Practices for Water Conservation
By: Dave Hartman
In Texas about 25 percent of the water supply is used for landscape and garden watering. Much of this water is used to maintain traditionally high water-demanding landscapes, or it is simply applied inefficiently. One popular strategy for water reduction is Xeriscaping.
Xeriscaping
refers to a method of landscape design that minimizes water use. Other commonly used phrases are drought-tolerant, zeroscaping and smartscaping. Some cities have mandated the use drought-tolerant plants. Check to see if your city has such a mandate.
According to the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, “Xeriscape landscapes need not be cactus and rock gardens. They can be green, cool landscapes full of beautiful plants maintained with water-efficient practices. The same green Texas-style landscape which we are accustomed to can be achieved and still conserve water.”
Best Practices:
·Don’t over water
·Implement a zoning system – grasses, shrubs, trees
·Permanent sprinkler system – more efficient than hoses
·Drip irrigation – more efficient than sprinkler… can use lower quality water
·Mulching – conserves moisture
·Proper mowing and fertilizing
Helpful links:
Xeriscaping
A&M Horticulture
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/xeriscape/xeriscape.html
http://thoroughreview.com/xeriscape/links.shtml
Success stories: NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/20/garden/20080821_sustainable_ss_index.html
City of Corinth
http://cityofcorinth.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={75C5C898-EA0E-47D8-BF71-B96ECD7088E9}
City of Austin
http://www.cityofaustin.org/growgreen/default.htm
Texas Urban Landscape Guide (A&M)