Leaving Green

Saving Water Starts With Innovative Landscaping

Editorial

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And unfortunately, most Utah residents have always seen thick, green grass as drop-dead gorgeous. It is that, but the allure is also hideously unnatural.

Kentucky bluegrass and other popular types of turf go through water faster than Michael Phelps, draining our rivers and reservoirs and straining our limited liquid resources.

According to Dennis Strong, director of Utah's Division of Water Resources, a staggering two-thirds of Utah's culinary water is used for outdoor landscaping. That's ridiculous. We live in a desert. Precipitation is sparse. And still we try to make Utah yards look like lawns in Ohio.