If your yard is nothing but dirt, rejoice! The hard work has been done for you.
With the record-breaking rains we received and what seemed to be a gift for our battered landscapes, it’s easy to forget we are still in drought.
The rain was a welcome respite, but the rainfall deficit we’re up against is no joke: 55 inches.
Fortunately, SAWS has done an exceptional job preparing for droughts like this.
Still, those of us who work on our gardens and look longingly at our lawns don’t like what we see. But before you call a landscaping company or run to the store for pallets of sod, consider this: a new lawn — whether it’s Bermuda, St. Augustine or Zoysia — takes an immense amount of water and care.
If your established lawn is struggling during this drought, imagine how difficult it will be for new sod to take root and survive.
Also, under stage three watering rules, a high use surcharge goes into effect after reaching 20,000 gallons, which is easily achieved by watering new sod. No variances are granted for replacing turf because of drought struggles, disease, winter freezes or beautification projects. (Variances are granted only if a home is a new build with no prior turf, or a construction project that destroys 50% or more of your landscape for foundation repair, septic install, etc.)
Is your yard nothing but dirt? Rejoice — there’s no need for solarization! The hard work has been done for you, and you have a clean slate to plant a drought tolerant landscape — in the fall when the weather is milder.
You can plant WaterSaver plants that thrive during times like these in place of water intensive turf and enjoy less stress.
A beautiful garden during drought is possible — and it doesn’t require you to break the bank.
