Las Vegas is a desert. Everyone who lives here knows it, and yet we continue to try and change the fact that there is not enough rainfall to have many types of plants and the sun is just too hot in the summer for these plants to thrive. The reason the desert looks the way it does is because lush and green plants cannot naturally survive here, and as we try to change our environment by including artificial types of irrigation, we end up with the constant battle against the desert to keep things alive that literally cannot grow here on their own. There is nothing wrong with trying to remake your environment the way you want it to be, but when those efforts have the potential of having a negative impact on our well being they might need to be stopped. Your yard is entirely ornamental, and even though it provides as nice and soft place for your children and pets to play, it cannot be considered more important than the well being of our citizens. Las Vegas is in the middle of a severe drought situation, and this means that we must conserve water. Each square foot of grass that is planted in the Las Vegas area consumes more than 55 gallons of water a year that could be allocated towards humans and animals drinking, and if you are wasting it to keep a lawn alive you must rethink your landscaping.
The water authority encourages our citizens to conserve water in any way they can, because we have a limited supply and we run the risk of not having enough for everyone to drink. If a crisis like a water shortage was to happen, it could result in our neighbors suffering or maybe even dying, so we must all do our part to conserve as much as we can. The water authority has recently upped it’s rebate per square foot of grass that is removed and replaced with water smart landscaping from 2 to 3 dollars, in an attempt to help even more people make the switch. There are many types of landscaping that will qualify for the rebate, so ask your landscape designer what your options are and make sure that you follow the correct procedures to get your rebates.
Artificial turf is one of the best forms of landscape replacement because it looks just like regular grass without the need for water, but desert landscaping is a more natural look for our area. The concept of desert landscaping has come a long way over the years, and now some of the best looking landscapes actually use little to no water in our area. The use of plants and elements that are natural to the desert can create a dramatic look and feel that may not be what people on the east coast are used to, but are even more dramatic. Consider making the switch to desert landscaping today, and we can help you through the entire process from front to back.