| No one can predict how much rain each season will | | | | The related cost of changing landscapes to save |
| bring. Industry experts advise lawn care professionals | | | | water requires a significant investment. Over time, |
| and home owners to prepare for dry spells by | | | | water, fertilizer, lawn and garden equipment supplies |
| drought proofing the entire landscape. | | | | and increasing maintenance labor needs must be |
| Nonetheless each landscape possesses different | | | | calculated into the life long equation. |
| environmental and physical characteristics and not to | | | | According to the latest annual report by the Public |
| mention, a variety of uses so the weighty decision to | | | | Policy Institute of California, the growing number of |
| choose specific plants should be considered first | | | | single-family homes with healthy lawns is projected to |
| when preparing a lawn. | | | | significantly increase the state's water demands. |
| Typically for the home owner, turf areas need the | | | | California is projected to add about 11 million new |
| most irrigation. After all, turf is often used as a | | | | residents by 2025, and at least half of them are |
| welcome mat to the home. A lush, green carpet adds | | | | expected to live in inland areas |
| to the home's curb appeal. | | | | Some municipalities are seeking active legislation to |
| However, there are alternatives to the financial and | | | | reduce the amount of water home and business |
| time requirements associated with turf grasses, | | | | owner's use over the next several years. If the |
| according to Bob Delozier, President of Eco Alliance | | | | property owner can't water at all due to local bans, |
| Synthetic a leading dealer for synthetic grass | | | | they must have the resources to take special |
| systems, "Dealing with lawn care, specifically | | | | precautions. Daily inspections are needed to reduce |
| regarding water, whether it's for a household, a | | | | their lawns demand for water and help them through |
| government or a business, installing synthetic grass in | | | | a dry time. |
| place of existing natural grass will dramatically reduce | | | | "Thirsty grass is expected to strain water supplies in |
| cost and effort over time." | | | | California over the next 25 years if nothing is done to |
| Good news for lawn care since water management | | | | reduce outdoor water use," states Bob Delozier. |
| impacts the landscaper, garden designers, property | | | | Water restrictions will not cause any problems for |
| managers and home owners. | | | | the synthetic landscaped property. When it comes to |
| The synthetic grass option bears significant | | | | purchasing drought tolerant plants, installing a drip |
| consideration. Specifically when some grass species | | | | irrigation system and specifically designed water use |
| are more drought sensitive than others. Fescue, for | | | | landscaping, according to Delozier, "with the synthetic |
| instance, ranks extremely high in this category. The | | | | lawn system, the constant lawn challenge is removed |
| grass will actually go into shock during a drought and | | | | from daily life over the next 20 years of regular use. |
| possibly die if it's not watered. | | | | |