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Davis Journal

A plan to go from drought ugly to low-water lovely

Sep 02, 2022 11:38AM ● By Kerry Angelbuer

Many Utahns are trying to recreate landscapes borrowed from more temperate and rainy European climates or even wetter climates in the Eastern United States. These landscapes rely on ample rainfall to keep things green. With drought stalking our state, Utahns need to rethink their outdoor spaces with ideas and flora that fit our dry, desert climate. 

“I help homeowners spend more time enjoying their yard by designing their landscape to require less maintenance,” said Melanie Brooks, Woods Cross landscaper. She recommends following the designs outlined on the Localscapes website. The designs do include grass, but more as design feature and less as a default landscaping tool stretching from property line to driveway to home. Grass not only takes a lot of water to maintain, but it also takes a lot of effort to maintain. Her goal is to help homeowners spend less time fertilizing, mowing, edging, and weeding and more time relaxing in their outdoor spaces with their families. Taking the trouble out of caring for your outside spaces so that time can be spent living, joyfully in your chosen, low-maintenance areas.

Beauty does not have to be compromised, Localscapes can be water-wise and eye-catching. If still in doubt, Melanie recommends visiting the Conservation Garden Park in West Jordan to see their lovely botanical gardens. Conservationgardenpark.org the garden’s website offers classes, free designs, and a databases of over 1,000 Utah friendly plants.  

•  The first step of a Localscape is open space in the middle which can be grass in the backyard for playing children and something more water-wise in the front like pavers or gravel. Central grass keeps irrigation simpler. Grass is planted in sprinkler-friendly shapes to make keeping the area green with minimal irrigation. 

• Gathering Areas are designed next in areas around the central open space. Anyone who has ever tried to mow around a trampoline, table or swing set knows how time-saving it can be to have a non-irrigated area set aside for playing or eating. No irrigation means saving water, as well as limiting weeding and maintenance of these areas. Several inches of mulch will keep play areas safe and weed free. Depending on family needs, these areas may include a gazebo, patio, deck, play structure, fire pit, pool or just an outdoor patio for eating. 

• Paths between the open area in the middle and all the other chosen gathering areas can be gravel, mulch, stones, pavement, or pavers. Grass is hard to maintain in narrow areas, other choices are best. Paths invite family and visitors to move to other areas in the yard that otherwise may not be visited.

• The rest of the yard is planting beds. Choose your favorites of the thousands of low-water plant choices available. These areas are watered with drip irrigation so that you spend less time weeding and more time enjoying the perennial flowers you have chosen to spice up your planting beds. 

Changing your yard to a Localscape can save about 30-35 percent of the irrigation water used each season. This unused water can help save our dwindling Great Salt Lake.  λ