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Careful Plant Choices Can Reduce Water Use
Homeowners and businesses can use xeriscaping to reduce the amount of water needed by a landscape. Xeriscaping involves the use of “water wise” vegetation, choosing optimum amounts of hardscape and vegetation, and other techniques.
As we move into summer, news reports and other sources indicate that the increasing scarcity of water resources will impact consumers, landscape professionals, turfgrass managers and others across many regions. While concerns over dwindling natural resources and burgeoning populations are not new, several recent developments have contributed to heightened awareness of water use.
One development is the influence of La Niña. National Weather Service meteorologists report that weak La Niña conditions developed in the eastern Pacific during the past winter, contributing to marked drought concerns in the Southwest, central and southern Plains. Droughty conditions will very likely persist or worsen until thunderstorm season arrives. Other factors include recent, nearly unprecedented dry weather, unseasonably high temperatures, and gusty winds, which have worsened dry conditions in several large areas. Drought has impacted farmers and ranchers, drying up stock ponds and negatively affecting pasture, range and winter wheat crops.
Currently, severe to extreme drought extends across the southwest into the southern plains and northward. The U.S. Drought Monitor gives its highest drought rating, D4 (exceptional), to portions of Texas and Oklahoma. Ongoing drought concerns may linger. For the nation as a whole, the U.S. Spring Outlook for April through June indicates below-normal precipitation for several disparate areas. Above-normal temperatures are indicated for the same, or other, areas. In some areas, lakes are also already below normal levels.
These problems are exacerbating issues that have been increasing for years. Many communities are responding to drier conditions with more numerous, and broader, watering restrictions for residents and businesses.
A roundup of recent water-related reports includes:
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The North Texas Municipal Water District plans to implement Stage 3 water conservation regulations. The District is hiring 3 new seasonal employees to help enforce regulations that limit outdoor watering to one day each week.
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The City of Tampa, FL has declared April the “Official Water Conservation Month” and has published a proclamation. Residents are invited to take a pledge to practice water saving measures, suggestions for which are outlined in the Pledge. These voluntary activities are in addition to a number of watering restrictions that have already been implemented for Tampa Water Department residential and commercial customers.
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The Rhode Island state Drought Steering Committee, which recommends emergency water measures to the governor, and had met just once 2002-2005, met again in April and will meet in May. The Committee is planning to address concerns about the early impact of dry weather. Eugene Pepper, a Rhode Island environmental planner, says turf farmers are harvesting early before fields lose their color, and to avoid increasing costs of irrigation.
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In Raleigh, NC a panel appointed by city council recommended mandatory 3-day-a-week outdoor watering regulations. It has also recommended creating a system to use recycled water for irrigation.
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Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico has ordered all state agencies to reduce water use. The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority issued an advisory that, beginning in May, increases fines for residences that waste water. Fines will be doubled from $40 for first violation to as much as $2,000 for a ninth violation. “Wasted water” is defined as anything other than natural precipitation that flows onto a public right-of-way, city storm drain or adjacent private property.
Clearly these and other measures impact residents and businesses, including agricultural businesses. It is almost certain that interest in a variety of voluntary and involuntary water-saving measures will increase. If they are not doing so already, water users will continue to have to consider—or adopt—new outdoor measures, such as:
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Further limits on permissible watering periods
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Selection of proven “water wise” vegetative products for lawn and landscape
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Decrease in the amount of plants and/or turfgrass used in the landscape
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Greater use of recycled water for landscape irrigation
Lower water users, like this Little Rev from the Celebrated Plants line, will continue to thrive in landscapes that receive few, or irregular, waterings.
Since the environmental, climatic and human benefits of vegetation use in the landscape have been argued and documented many times, it is not within the scope of this article to again reiterate those benefits. We consider it a “given” that the use of plants and turfgrass is beneficial for many landscapes; and that that homeowners and commercial entities have access to varieties with greater water-saving benefits.
We encourage you and your customers to continue to explore new plant products that need less water and overall maintenance. There are many good ones continually being researched, trialed and introduced to market.
One newer line of plants with lower water needs is Celebrated Plants. This line of improved ornamental grass-like plants currently includes 6 unique varieties, with 6 more to be introduced to U.S. markets in the next 18-24 months. Celebrated Plants offer a variety of heights, shapes, textures and colors for landscapes, but all have lower maintenance needs—including lower water needs—in common. For more information about Celebrated Plants, visit celebratedplants.com.
To learn more about additional “water wise” plant selections, contact your local county extension office or visit gardeners’ networking Web sites. |
