Hi All,
A funny thing happened to me today. I was reading about lawns, why we like them and what they may mean to modern man in a fun little book called “Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise and other Imponderables by David Feldman (no bathroom should be without this book by the way) and then I ran across this article in the Los Angeles Times Online entitled “Public Enemy Number 1?” all about the green, green grass of home and why it may not be the best choice for landscaping.
Claremont, like everywhere else in Southern California is, or more accurately was Desert. And the rich profusion of greenery that abounds is much more nurture than nature. And Claremont, like most of Southern California has been severely affected by the drought-like conditions that we are currently experiencing.
The hint of rainfall that we received last winter was, to borrow a phrase not even a drop in the bucket toward the amount of water needed to support life.
And while things are not desperate yet, if water consumption continues at the rate it has been going, it truly is only a matter of fairly short time before we are all in pretty big trouble.
But giving up a lush, green lawn is not an easy thing to get people to do. They like their lawns and most don’t even know or care why they like them, they just do.
According to the article in the book studies have been done which demonstrate that even people who have never seen a lawn in their lives, when shown photographs of different terrains overwhelmingly select flat, grassy areas as the places that they say they would prefer to live.
At the time the book was written in 1987, 55 million homes in the United States had lawns covering some 25 to 30 million acres. That is a whole lot of grass to mow. That is also a whole lot of grass to water. And, in the last twenty years we have built a whole lot more houses, added a whole lot more people, planted a whole lot more grass and compounded the problem.
The time has come to start thinking about how to be water-wise and drought friendly with your landscaping. You don’t need to dig up your lawn just yet, but little changes can yield big results.
The LA Times article has some great tips to consider. Take a look and see what you think.
Take care,
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6 Responses to The Green, Green Grass Of Home
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About Me
Tisza Major-Posner
(909) 837-8922
I.V.P.G. - Inland Valley Professional Group Powered by Keller Williams in Claremont/Upland/Rancho Cucamonga, California
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And don’t forget that if you live in Claremont, you’ll get fined if your yard isn’t lush and green!
In Santa Clara County, we’re being asked to voluntarily cut back water consumption by 10% since we didn’t get our usual water from the snowpack melting this year (precip was down and then there was an endangered smelt that caused our delta water to be cut off too). Lawns are often a first casualty when strict rationing is imposed and we have a disclosure line about the possibility of droughts here since we know they do happen from time to time. Luckily it’s not that bad right now.
You raise a great point about how much people want to see lawns, though. In my experience, homes with alternate landscaping – especially in the front yard (other than lawns) – just do not sell nearly as well as homes with that inviting carpet of green.
Maybe someone should develop a drought tolerant lawn product?
Hi All,
Meg – As you know we here in Claremont have been asked to significantly cut back on our water usage as have folks all over the state. We are also encouraged to use drought tolerant, native landscaping as much as possible.
In searching the City Codes I could not find anything that specifically said that you would be fined for not having a green lawn or for choosing an alternative landscaping design. I did however find reference to reprimand if you allow your property to become an eyesore or a fire hazard. Since this can impact property values not just for you but for those around you, it seems pretty reasonable to me for the City to encourage it’s residents to maintain their property.
Mary – You also raise a good point. People like lawns, they help sell homes and as long as they do, they will remain. A drought tolerant natural lawn product would make someone a millionaire.
Take care,
Tisza
Honestly, I can’t recall a single missive from Claremont about water usage in the three years I lived there. Our friends definitely had to pay several $150 fines for letting their lawn get brown during the worst one-year drought in recorded history. Regardless of the particular statue they were harassed under, it happened, and it certainly doesn’t say much for Claremont as a green city.
Every morning on the way to work, I’d pass The Dansen on 1rst St, with it’s misters going full bore over an empty patio, and every evening, I’d exit the I-10 onto Indian Hill, and have to drive over a small creek of wasted irrigation water in the gutters on each side of the street. Not very green.
I’m as guilty as the next guy of having a green lawn, but claiming that Claremont is particularly water savvy seems a bit optimistic.
I do have to say that there are some beautifully xeriscaped private yards in Claremont. I particularly admire one between 3rd and 4th on Harvard. I’d love to learn more about xeriscaping, and grey water systems.
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for stopping by. I agree the information about the need for water conservation in our city has not be spread as widely as it should have been. I find that things like this show up on the Claremont City page and also in the City Letter, but it really should get a bigger push.
I also get pretty rankled when I see a flagrant waste, like watering in the heat of the day or the sprinklers that are watering the sidewalk more than the grass.
I will try to get more information for you about grey water systems and zeriscaping. I am planning to do an article on sustainable energy systems and so other ways that you can green up your home and environs.
Again, thanks for stopping by and for reading my articles. And if you have any other ideas or suggestions for things you would like to see me dive into, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Take care,
Tisza
water conservation should be done because we are already having some water shortage these days*”~