Going Green...in your yard!

There's no doubt your lawn drinks a lot of water. You may think that in order to keep it green and weed-free you have to use a lot of water and chemicals. But that doesn’t have to be the case. This past week I interview Classic Landscapes owner, Tony Parker, and this is his advice.

1. Go back to more natural forms of grass without having to put so many chemicals and use so much water. Some examples are bahia and coastal Bermuda. They do well without being irrigated. Or for something different, try clover. It can be a little invasive, but it's really cool and lush and doesn't require any water or mowing! If you do have to mow your lawn, don't cut it too short.

2. Try using more native plant material that is suitable to the area. Plant material that doesn't require a lot of chemicals or a lot of extra water. Here are some examples:

Live Oaks, Yaupon Hollys, Crape Myrtles and Eastern Redbuds are drought tolerant trees.

Azaleas are great water-friendly shrubs.

Native perennials like black-eyed susans, gaillardia, day lilies, shasta daisies and wormwood are also drought tolerant and can add great color to the landscape.

3. Parker says recommends staying away from water thirsty plants like annuals. Examples are impatients, pansies and other seasonal flowers that you change out. If you love annuals and can't stay away, there are a few that don't require as much water likr dusty miller, zinnias, marigolds and geraniums.

So, with a little bit of research and some planning, you can make your yard low-maintainence and water friendly while always making it a beautiful place to hang out.