Aside from sailing through the drought, a water-resilient landscape is practically maintenance-free.
The July-like sight of golden lawns and roadsides in early spring is yet another reminder of how unlucky landscapes in south-central Texas have been in recent memory when it comes to rainfall.
As we begin the sixth year of drought conditions, we’re running out of suitable superlatives to apply to the ongoing stinginess of weather patterns. But it’s helpful to remember that, luckily our local climate has plenty of resilient landscape options available that are still soldiering through as if drought is the new normal.
At their best, they green up and bounce back immediately after the slightest trace of rain. For dedicated WaterSaver gardeners, it’s a chance to put your plant selections to the test. And there are additional silver linings.
- Weeds are at a minimum so far this year. Although wildflowers are scarce these days, so are a lot of the winter weeds that cause an annual panic in the spring residential lawn and landscape including sow thistle, henbit and bedstraw.
- Less mowing is needed. With the aforementioned lawn weeds in short supply — and even the winter rescue grass already turning brown — the whirling blades and motors of spring cutting, mowing and weed-eating have yet to take over our free time, leaving us free time to enjoy the wild breezes of March.
- Less need for leaf blowers. Although oak trees are beginning to shed leaves around town, the lack of mountain laurel and redbud flowers this spring (due to a fairly pathetic spring display) means that leaf blowers have been given less to do. Enjoy the silence (while it lasts).
- Fewer mosquitos. ANY mosquitos are an annoyance of course, but a combination of less moisture and well-timed cold snaps reduced their numbers over the most recent season. Granted, it’s still March and mosquitos may not be quite up to speed yet, but fewer of them buzzing around is one of the few delights of warm windy weather.
- Lower water bills. Many SAWS customers turn off irrigation for winter averaging, but with fewer days and times available to water in Stage 3, WaterSaver gardeners may see lower water bills during the warm season, if they’re cutting back accordingly.
And while we’re accentuating the positive, although the Edwards aquifer is still 30 feet below the drought trigger, a bit of rain has surfaced in this week’s forecast — a drop in an empty bucket, perhaps, but a welcome break, nonetheless.
