Will the Southwest Outlaw Green Lawns Entirely Soon?
Many Southwest Cities Are Encouraging Homeowners to Get Rid of Their Lawns for Water Conservation
Austin, Texas: As drought conditions continue throughout the Southwest portion of the united States, many cities are demanding or strongly encouraging homeowners to replace their grass with xeriscaping.
Many cities, including Los Angeles and Long Beach are paying homeowners to remove their lawns, according to a recent article in the Austin American-Statesman.
In Austin, Texas, the city is offering rebates and special watering rights for people who replace their St, Augustine grass with Bermuda, which is a much less thirsty variety.
Many cities already have water restriction in place … and a trend away from lush grass to xeriscaping is probably a good idea.
Will the trend away from lush green lawns be effective?
I think it will take an education process with ads and commercials, town hall meetings, and a PR campaign to convince the local citizens on the cost benefit analysis between a limited drinking water supply and a green lawn.
It will take several years but I think once people see how little care a xeriscaped yard takes and how attractive it can look, more and more people will make the switch from grass to xeriscaping.
I remember as kid that one neighbor put a rock lawn–which as just white rocks across the entire front yard. No xeriscaping, a few plants — and it looked hideous.
If neighbors can see the beauty of native flowers and plants — many will come on board.
If homeowners associations will become more lenient on these non-lush lawns, great strides can also be made.
Bottom line, water is in short supply – and unless people are willing to invest in ways to convert their water from their toilets directly into their sprinkler systems, wasting this scare resource on a lush lawn should become a thing of the past.
What do you think?
Please let me know.
