Tips for Creating a Traditional Water-Wise Landscape - Existing Landscapes
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| UCLA Students install drought-tolerant plants in a water-wise landscape. Today.ucla.edu |
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| Homeowners can create a beautiful and colorful landscape while reducing water-use. theutahhouse.org |
Many homeowners with existing traditional landscapes can change their water consumption by following a few steps. These can be implemented all at once or over time.
Chances are, your existing landscape already includes many water-wise plants. Create a chart and list all plants on the property. You may need to consult a plant expert to do this. Contact a local garden center or the Cooperative Extension Service near you for assistance. Once this is accomplished, plants can be moved and grouped into appropriate hydrozones.
Irrigation System Retrofit
Irrigation systems in many landscapes are inappropriately designed. Overhead sprinkler heads are often set to water turf and planting beds in the same irrigation zone. Although it may be more work and expense, moving plants and switching to drip irrigation will improve the health of the landscape and save water over time.
- have a plan
- identify water needs of existing plants
- move and group those with similar water and light needs or replace with appropriate species
- use appropriate mulch to conserve water
- convert overheard sprinklers into drip systems
- reduce the amount of lawn
- install hardscape areas
- replace high water use turf with low water use turf species in areas that are seldom used
Additional Resources
West
Utah - Conservation Garden Park
Southeast
Water Wise Plants by Type
- Annuals
- Groundcovers
- Perennials
- Vines
- Shrubs
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