CONSERVATION CORNER

LAWNS, MOWING AND COMPOSTING

While lawns are attractive and enjoyable, they require a lot of water to maintain. In light of the recent drought and other long-term water supply concerns, DWP and CSD have been reevaluating sustainable landscapes for the Big Bear Valley and some modification of landscapes and landscape planning is in order. Along with limiting new landscape turf areas to 25% or 1000 square feet, we are encouraging development of low water-use turf alternatives to the standard Kentucky bluegrass. Promising alternatives are Texas bluegrass and tall fescue, which require 25% less water. We are also encouraging businesses and homeowners to consider converting some of their landscapes to xeriscapes.

Mowing lawns is a maintenance chore that most of us have experienced at some point in our lives. However, few of us are aware that mowing a lawn too short leads to increased water demand by your lawn. It is best to mow lawns to a length of around 2 ½ inches. This allows the lawn to shade itself, reducing evapotranspiration. Additionally, grass clippings are a neglected resource which is high in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Grass clippings and other vegetable waste from your kitchen can be composted and used as a soil amendment in your garden, once they decompose. Composting can greatly reduce your weekly contribution to our landfills. Thus, it is simply another useful method of recycling which is important for all of us to consider.

To learn more about xeriscaping and for a more extensive list of drought tolerant plants that grow well in the Big Bear Valley, please contact your local water agency or click to visit the Xeriscape Website.

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