A natural grass lawn can be extremely high maintenance. One of the most costly and time consuming aspects of a keeping a lawn green and vibrant is making sure it is adequately hydrated. This can become a problem rather quickly if you don't have time to make sure it is watered sufficiently or, if there are watering restrictions due to a severe drought.
Water Saving Options
When you know your time and resources are limited, the best thing to do is to use landscape solutions that work with what you have available. You can choose to reseed your lawn with drought resistant varieties of grass seed or you can turn portions of your lawn into small “gardens” that contain plants or other items that require little to no water to survive. There are several types of decorative grass and shrubs that can thrive in almost desert-like conditions. Rock gardens with statues and various other decorative items are also an option.
Several landscape solutions are available for almost every type of environment. Visiting a local nursery will give you an idea of what is affordable to use and will work well in your specific situation. If you have a relatively small yard, you can make it so the majority of the lawn is taken up by decorative landscaped areas. This means less watering for you and less worry about the grassy part of the lawn not looking its best.
Consider Installing Artificial Turf
In areas where drought conditions are common, replacing your natural grass lawn with artificial turf is a win/win situation. Using artificial turf as one of you landscape solutions provides you with a beautiful lawn all year round without having to spend the majority of your time taking care of it. Not only does it hold its look, it prevents you from having to worry about how much water you need to maintain it.
Many neighborhood organizations require homeowners to maintain their lawns at an extremely high standard. This can mean high fines in areas where watering the grass is prohibited due to water shortages or drought conditions. In California, for example, residents who are caught watering their lawns can face fines of up to $500 a day if they are caught using water unnecessarily when restrictions are in place. Over time, this can add up to thousands of dollars in unnecessary fines.
For individuals who have a natural grass lawn, they end up paying fines to the neighborhood organization if their lawn begins to deteriorate or to the city, county or state if they are caught using water unnecessarily. In the past, neighborhood organizations frowned on artificial turf, but with drought conditions on the rise, they are becoming much more lenient.
Artificial turf should be looked at as more of an investment in as conventional home improvement/landscape solution. Initially, the cost can seem extreme, but when you factor in the length of time the lawn will remain in place, the savings from no longer having to maintain a grass lawn, the amount of water and fertilizer that will be saved, as well as the dramatic increase in resale value, it becomes a more reasonable. When all factors are considered, the money spent on installing artificial turf will be returned several times over.
Another thing that should be considered is your time. Today, more than ever, your time is a valuable commodity. If you have a family, spending time with them should be your first priority. Landscape solutions that allow you to spend your free time on things you enjoy are well worth the price tag, especially if you can keep your home looking nice in the process.
