Having the perfect lawn is the dream of many homeowners. The problem for many is that the climate where they live makes it a challenge to achieve this. In arid areas like in the Southwest US, it is so dry and hot that a traditional lawn ends up drying out and turning brown no matter how much care and maintenance you do to it.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t have a nice lawn or immaculate yard when you live in an area like that. It simply means that you have to be adaptable and come up with some solutions that will work to give you something to be proud of. In this article, we will give you some ideas on how to achieve a beautiful lawn even in an arid area.
1 – Use what you have
It might be very dry where you live and you could likely be faced with frequent water bans. This prevents most people from properly watering their lawns and getting them to stay nice and green. The fact is that you may have more access to water than you realize. If you can scrounge up some extra water to use without violating a water ban then you can have a decent-looking lawn.
Many arid areas see lots of rainfall coming at once and this is what leads to drought conditions later on. You should be collecting that rainwater when it arrives and using water storage containers to keep it for when you can use it later on when things get dry. If you have ones big enough, then you can water your lawn when it needs it without worrying about going dry.
You should also be using a gray water system that uses the runoff from things like your washing machine, shower, sinks, and dishwasher. This system is separate from the sewer line so the water collects in a small cistern in the yard. The water then leaches out under the grass where the roots can access it and use it to stay hydrated. Thousands of gallons go down the drain that could instead be going directly to your grass.
2 – Use the right grass
Even when you are collecting rainwater and using a gray water system, you need to make sure the grass you use is one that is drought tolerant. There will be times when you don’t have enough water from those systems to provide a traditional lawn what it needs.
However, when you find the right type of grass for your area, then this is likely to stay green even during those periods when you don’t have enough water.
3 – Use landscaping
A lawn doesn’t necessarily have to be a green grass kind. In an arid area, you can use a lot of native plant species that will make your yard look beautiful and not need a lot of water. These plants can handle drought since it is normal for them.
Use things like stone gardens and accent them with some shrubs and tall grasses for a great effect.
