Many cities in the United States are rapidly growing. We've seen dramatic changes in the Dallas Fort Worth area in the past few decades. As more and more people move to these expanding cities, the demand for water also increases. Not sure about y'all, but we still haven't seen any water trucks hooked onto those moving vans, so the slice of the “water-pie” for each resident gets smaller as our cities grow.
According to the EPA “the average American family of four uses 400 gallons of water per day, and about 30% of that is devoted to outdoor uses.”
As temperatures rise and the weather changes and becomes more extreme, many of us will be faced with more and more water restrictions, and we all need to do our part to make our landscaping less dependent on decreasing water sources. One of the most important ways you can set your landscaping up for long-term success is by planting water wise plants. Forget about the water hog plants such as Mophead Hydrangeas and instead plant perennials that have long roots that reach down many feet where they can find water way below the soil surface.
Rethink xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is a landscaping technique that uses as many native, drought-resistant plants as possible in order to greatly reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation. When people hear this word, most just think of cacti and succulents, but don't assume that those are the only drought tolerant plants. There are many beautiful blooming perennials and ornamental grasses that can add so much beauty and enjoyment to your garden without needing hundreds of gallons and dollars-worth of water.
If you plan wisely and choose the appropriate plants, you can help our cities with their growing demand for water, show off a stunning yard, and save yourself lots of money along the way!