City Offers $1,000 For Grass-Free Lawns - Watering Lawns No. 1 Water-Waste Issue

[The Straight Story]

City Offers $1,000 For Grass-Free Lawns
Watering Lawns No. 1 Water-Waste Issue, Leaders Say

OVIEDO, Fla. -- A Central Florida city is offering its residents green cash in exchange for a greenless lawn.

The city of Oviedo will pay $1,000 to residents who trade in their grass lawns for less thirsty landscapes with mulch and drought-resistant plants.

City leaders said watering lawns is the No. 1 water-waste issue at a time that the state of Florida is facing a water crisis.

"We're looking at running out of water in 2013 and having the cost of water go up anywhere from 500 to 600 to 700 percent," Oviedo Deputy Mayor Dominic Persampiere said.

http://www.local6.com/news/14393318/detail.html

[Tyler Durden]

1. And what about all of those GOLF COURSES?

Just sayin'

[hlthe2b]

2. do natural groundcovers consume lots of water?

Obviously, for smaller yards and I think many types may require more shade, but just curious...? Any landscapers/master gardeners out there?

[Ino]

6. My front yard is English Ivy

Once it got established, I never water it or fertilize it. Twice a year I run an electric hedge clipper along the edge of the steps & retaining wall to trim it, and pull the few weeds that have popped up. Super for a steep grade! Always looks fresh and green.

[kestrel91316]

7. If you use plants native to an area, they are alrady adapted to

whatever rainfall normally falls.

Here in LA if you plant chapparal plants, they need NO water once established (they die if watered in summer). Ceanothus is a popular one, known as mountain lilac.

I'm sure FL has its own native Southeastern plants. Caribbean island plants probably would work, too.

[madfloridian]

3. Then they need to start restricting development

.

[Turbineguy]

4. Thanks for posting this!

I just sent a message with the link to my home-owners association.:evilgrin:

[ladjf]

5. I think that grassy lawns are attractive. But, the time has come to

start thinking about alternative landscaping.