Drought in the South

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I'm not endorsing watering or not watering grass, but if you live in a dry climate you have to water or it will die. Probably half my backyard has grass and is sprinklered, while there are other areas near the rear of the yard and beyond the driveway which aren't sprinklered. Pretty much nothing grows on the ground there. There are some very low-water desert plants available, but what with the rear wall and trees those areas are too shady for them. I don't mind some dirt so it doesn't bother me, but I am going to keep watering the grass in primary areas of the yard because I use it.
 
Nevada Style

Here in northern California, there are only minor restrictions so far. We are very likely in a drought. California increases in population by 500,000 people each year, and no additions/modifications to the water system have been completed in probably 50 years. We are probably in for a big shock.

I really would not mind a Nevada style yard, which requires no water. My neighborhood right now has those continuous front lawns, and this would be a big change.

I have a 1/3 acre, and during the summer we water a lot, but it is all with hoses, as we never but in a sprinkler system. The yard irrigation is what really uses the water here. But 140 l of water a day (about 37 gallons) is a very small quantity. During the winter we use about 400 gallons a day for two people!

Martin
 
~I have never bought into the idea of watering grass. I see as such a waste of water. My in-laws have often made fun of me not watering "your grass is just going to burn up". They were never much on conserving natural resources but rather "keeping up with the Jones". I've never been one to try to impress my neigbors.
Now I water my flowering plants when they are in season.

I usually don't have to water here as we usually get lots of rain (This year is one of the wettest on record). When I do, I use a hose and sprinkler. I have had to water 3 of the 8 years I've lived here but only for July and August usually. Summer 2005 was very dry. Just as the rain seemed to be returning, hurricane Katrina over in N.O. seemed to suck all the moisture out of the air for the next month (until Rita hit us).

I installed an irrigation system on my front landscaping. It waters each plant and not the entire flower bed surface like a soaker hose does, thus saving water. I have a programmable timer that allows me to set the day, time, and duration of the watering. I use 1 gallon per hour emitters on most plants. I have definitely noticed a difference in the health of the plants, and the water bill too. You can add a fertilizer unit to the system too - I haven't done this yet.
 
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