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Why Waste Water on Under Performing Plants?09-17-15 | News

Why Waste Water on Under Performing Plants?
Beautiful Landscapes and Water Savings with New Initiative

One of Monrovia Nursery's "Top 40 Swap It Out Plants" is "Hearts of Gold' redbud, the first known gold-foliaged Cercis. The redbud first displays brilliant lavender-purple blooms appear on bare branches. In spring, red foliage emerges, maturing to gold; shaded leaves will be green.

In a drought the worst thing you can do for your landscape is to do nothing. Monrovia Nursery responded to the challenge by creating "Swap It Out," a new initiative to achieve smart, sensible ideas for reducing water use. The gist is to selectively remove plants that are thirsty, under-performing slackers and replacing them with water-wise overachievers.

Drive through a residential neighborhood and it's obvious that the all-or-nothing, "brown is the new green" message is rampant as drought continues well into its fourth year.

"Swap It Out" is a simple, cost-effective program to encourage homeowners to change their landscape's water use from a gulp to a sip, one plant at a time. No big investment in relandscaping overnight.

"Our goal is to spur longer term thinking by providing specific plant alternatives for tired, struggling plants that still drink up, but don't add beauty," said Monrovia spokesperson, Kate Karam.

Whether because of lack of knowledge about excellent alternatives, or fear of planting anything in a drought, homeowners continue to lavish precious water resources on plants that are clearly on their last legs. "Swap It Out!" suggests that by just yanking out the worst offenders and replacing them with spectacular water-wise alternatives homeowners, start to make an impact.

Once established, drought-tolerant "Flower Carpet' roses can replace thirstier hybrid teas. A hedge of water-wise "Emerald Wave' laurel provides privacy equal to privet. A border of daylily, African iris, Russian sage and dwarf maiden grass can look English cottage pretty.