Drought resistant landscaping encouraged to help save water

Governor Jerry Brown ordered California residents to cut water usage. The historic new initiative orders we need to cut water use by 25 percent. One of Governor Brown’s suggestions is to trade in turf for drought resistant landscaping.

People across the Coachella Valley are saying goodbye to their green lawns, and replacing them with more water friendly desertscapes.

“If they want a green lawn they should spray paint it green,” said Victoria Brenner of Palm Springs. “We need drought resistant plants.”

According to Brenner, her whole gated community has started to transition to desert landscaping.

A local landscaper agrees home owners in the desert should trade in their grass for a desertscape.

“I think in the long run a lot of these people that have already done it are going to see big savings because we don’t know when this drought is going to stop,” said Tim Sigle, a landscaper out of Palm Springs. ” We’re sure the price of water will go up.”

Even local water agencies are stepping in agreeing to help people pay for the change.

“That helps with some of the costs involved in removing the grass and putting in the new stones and thing for decorative landscaping and then taking out any plants that are not drought tolerant as well as desert tolerant,” explained Sigle.

The cost of renovation can be high, but there are other options for residents who want to keep their lawns more water efficient. Local home improvement stores sell many products that can help. For example, some help soil retain water and keep it from evaporating back into the air.

“You can really learn a lot of stuff on your own and the internet these days has everything,” added Sigle. “You can really teach yourself a lot on how to do most of it yourself.”

It is not the only way to help improve water conservation, but it is a start.

“I just think everyone should pitch in and start doing their part,” concluded Brenner.