Get off the grass

Two garden vignettes at the Water Conservation Garden show a dramatic difference in water use. One has traditional turf; the other uses hardscape, low-water plants and a small lawn area.

Theres never been a better time to consider replacing traditional turf with a water-wise landscape.

Consider these factors:

The entire state is in the throes of a severe drought.

The cost of water continues to escalate; our water rates will rise another 15 percent by the end of 2015.

And, the good news: There currently are two programs that offer rebates for turf removal to San Diego County residents.

The drought cycles and rising water costs are nothing new, yet most of us have been reluctant to let go of our green expanses of lawn. Pam Meisner, education director at the Water Conservation Garden, is among conservationists who are working to change our perceptions.

San Diego doesnt look like an arid Mediterranean climate because we dont want it to, she says. We want it to look like Hawaii.

Meisners colleague, Clayton Tschudy, who is horticulture director at the garden, believes that a Mediterranean landscape can be just as beautiful. By choosing the right plants, for example, you can have blooms all year long.

You dont have to put cactus in your yard to have drought-tolerant plants, says Tschudy. We have all manner of plants that are adapted to our climate: beautiful, soft, flowy grasses; beautiful evergreen shrubs; shrubs with color; trees with color; deciduous trees that give you fall color; vines everything is possible.

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Get off the grass