Lawn Care Reform

Lawns account for up to 50 percent of residential water use in some areas, and government conservation efforts are pressing for change. Water management may become the single biggest challenge for landscapers in the near future, and those who are savvy on the subject stand to profit.

 “Lawn Care Reform is not anti-lawn or about eliminating lawns, but more about the appropriate use of the ground around our homes and business parks,” says Saxon Holt, garden photographer and coauthor of The American Meadow Garden. “This has huge business potential if existing professionals could help lead the way and expand their knowledge.”

Another LRC member, professional horticulturist Thomas Christopher, agrees lawn reform offers great opportunities for imaginative and adaptable landscapers. “As the need for conserving water and reducing the use of fossil fuels increases, our traditional reliance on poorly adapted, resource-intensive types of turf grasses will have to change,” he says. “Landscapers who can provide their customers with alternatives will find themselves much in demand.”

Gene Ebertowski, owner of FloraTerra Landscape Management, says he’s working 12-hour days to keep up with the demand for clients who want his eco-friendly landscape services. “Water conservation is the single most important challenge to the future of landscape management,” he says. “New irrigation system technology and rebates from local water authorities make water conservation more affordable than ever.”

FloraTerra’s design team focuses on choosing low-water-use plant alternatives, converting older lawns to seasonally flowering, drought tolerant, insect and disease-resistant shrubs, trees and ornamental grasses. “We often convert inefficient overhead spray irrigation to efficient drip irrigation systems,” Ebertowski says. “Smart irrigation controllers apply water to current ET [evapotranspiration] rates in the precise amounts of water needed to keep plant material vibrant and healthy through changing seasonal weather patterns. This results in sustainable landscapes that are attractive, last a long time, save water and use less fertilizer and pesticides to maintain.”

Cash for Turf
Cash for grass replacement programs are offered by a growing number of water districts, typically, customers fill out an application and allow a water district inspector to visit the site to document the amount of existing turf. After removing turf and converting it to approved drought-tolerant plants, the site is re-examined and a rebate (typically between 20 cents and $1.50) for every square foot converted is sent to the property owner.

Eco-friendly Lawn Care Tips

1. Plant climate-appropriate grasses and grass-like species. Drought-tolerant doesn’t mean dull when it comes to planting.
   
2. Shade lawn from hot, midsummer sun.
   
3. Use redirected drainspouts and/or bermed plantings to direct runoff to the lawn area.
   
4. Add organic matter such as grass clippings and chopped leaves to lawn, and aerate compacted soil so it can absorb more moisture, which makes the lawn more drought-tolerant.
   
5. Use evapotranspiration controllers (ET or smart controllers), a self-adjusting controller that automatically adjusts irrigation schedules based on specific landscape needs and local weather conditions.