Is Xeriscaping Really Going to Help

1
Is Xeriscaping Really Going to Help?
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Benefits of Not Xeriscaping

• Reduce runoff-induced soil erosion
• Decrease environmental pollutants
• Moderate urban heat island effect
• Decrease surface runoff
• Absorb carbon dioxide
• Utahs 1 hobby is gardening, get to keep the
  gardens we already have
• For many activities turf is the only appropriate
  ground cover
• Plus other previously mentioned benefits

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Over-watering

• Unlike other plants that exhibit the stresses of
  over-watering readily, turf grass is able to
  withstand a great deal of over-irrigation without
  exhibiting signs of stress.
• -Utah State University
• On average 40 more water is used on turf grass
  than the grass requires.
• Ranked 20th in the US in total water usage.

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Xeriscape Water Use

• A study by ASU found that xeriscaping used 10
  more water than turf grass.
• The Albuquerque study showed that 17 people used
  more water after xeriscaping.

• Xeric plants used the same or more water than
  turf when not allowed to go dormant for summer.
• Trees and shrubs water use was relatively high
  compared to the same canopy area of turf grass.

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The Cot of Water

• Changing toilets from 5 to 1.6 gallon/flush was
  more cost efficient than xeriscaping.
• Drip systems become much less efficient over time
• Xeriscaping must be done correctly to be
  effective this includes land slope
  consideration, plants used, irrigation, foliage
  coverage, and soil type.

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How to Decrease Water Use

• Mow between 2.5-3 in height (promotes deeper
  roots).
• Use efficient irrigation (saves 30-50 on bill)
• Get ET controller (saves 45)
• Have a water audit done (saves 50-55)
• Use different grasses (Bermudagrass, Ryegrass,
  Buffalograss, Blue grama grass)

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Total Water Use
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• Although plants consume water, the amount of
  water used by plants is insignificant compared to
  the amount that ends up in gutters and sewers. 
  By far, the most efficient way to save water is
  to properly irrigate, not to remove or reduce
  vegetation.  Even if plants are removed, the
  amount of water saved would be insignificant
  compared to the amount of energy consumed by not
  maintaining plants.
• -National Energy Foundation, regarding the urban
  heat island effect

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Sources

• Addink, Sylvan. (2005). Cash for Grass A
• Cost Effective Method to Conserve Landscape
  Water? University of California, Riverside,
  Turfgrass Research Facility, http//ucrturf.ucr.ed
  u/, accessed 10/17/07.
• Kopp, K., Paul Johnson, and Loralie Cox. (2006).
  Water-Wise Landscaping Practical Turfgrass
  Areas. Horticulture/Yards Utah State University.
  Jan 2006.
• Nielson-Stowell, Amelia. (2005). Xeriscaping 101
  Electronic version. Deseret Morning News.
  Retrieved April 19, 2007, from
• http//deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,60013910
  0,00.html
• Sovocool, Kent A. Mitchell Morgan. Southern
  Nevada Water Authority. (2005). Xeriscape
  Conversion Study Final Report. Nevada Southern
  Nevada Water Authority.