Don't Ban Grass Lawns...Xeriscape!

In water-restricted areas, the question of whether grass laws should be banned has fomented controversy. The mere thought of governmental authorities dictating citizens’ private affairs instantly raises questions of freedom and constitutionality. After all, grass lawns are part and parcel of the homeowner’s private property.

However, there’s better solution to the water use problem. In this article, you’ll learn about an eco-friendly alternative to banning grass lawns: xeriscaping.

The Problem With Banning Grass Lawns
Particularly in the dry, hot southwest and western areas of the United States, the watering of lawns is so essential that many homes have an underground automatic sprinkler system. In the case of Texas, authorities ban summertime watering of lawns during the daytime when the evaporation rate is highest; thus, residents must set their sprinkler systems to run at night.

These restrictions are reasonable for most Texans; but any talk of outright banning grass lawns, and you're likely to have an angry uprising on your hands. It most certainly would not fly among the homeowner's association crowd. And no wonder; for our front lawns are as American as apple pie and hot dogs. It's where the kids play; where the dog runs; where we can hang out and mingle with our neighbors.

Indeed, banning grass lawns isn't the answer. But there's another solution that is fast gaining popularity; not a new solution by any means, but one that is being viewed in an entirely new light.

While most people consider xeriscaping to be a southwestern-style barren front yard with pebbles, cacti, and various succulents, it’s actually much more than that. In reality, the true definition of xeriscaping is simply planting low-water native plants and designing the garden in such a way as to minimize total water consumption.

According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) , seven principles comprise the eco-friendly practice of xeriscaping: planning and design, soil analysis, practical turf areas, appropriate plant selection, efficient irrigation, use of mulches, and appropriate maintenance. In case you prefer someone else do the work, many landscaping firms are now offering what they call sustainable landscape design .

The results are varied and quite amazing in their capacity to take on a range of landscape designs. From lush, tall grasses to small native plants to frilly wildflowers, xeriscaping is an excellent solution to our water use problem.

So before we go out and advocate something as drastic as banning grass lawns, perhaps more focus should be placed on educating the public about the benefits of xeriscaping. Going even further, giving tax breaks to homeowners who implement xeriscaping into their overall landscaping would be an added incentive. I believe it can be done, and it is a far better solution than banning lawns.