EVANSTON — On Aug. 16, the federal government declared the first-ever water shortage at Lake Mead, triggering cutbacks in water allocations for some of the seven states — California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming — that rely on Colorado River water. Utah’s Lake Powell is at historic lows and the National Integrated Drought Information System at drought.gov states that 2021 has been the driest year in Uinta County in 127 years. The southwestern part of Uinta County is classified as in extreme drought, meaning snowpack is poor and surface water is inadequate for ranching and farming, while the rest of the county is in severe drought, meaning pasture conditions are poor and trees and vegetation are stressed. Drought is upon the American West.

Local officials have spent the summer asking businesses and residents to cut back on water usage due to the severe ongoing drought conditions; one way that water consumption can be reduced is to decrease the frequency of lawn watering. Some local families are taking that lesson to heart and taking steps to dramatically decrease their water usage by deliberately killing their lawns and xeriscaping the outdoor areas of their home. Susan and Josh Anderson of Evanston are one such family.

Stopping by the Anderson home this summer, a visitor would immediately notice what was once the front lawn is now covered with black plastic. Josh explained the plastic cover is an intentional step to both completely kill the lawn down to the roots and soften the remaining soil for the xeriscaping they plan to undertake later, after the grass is gone. Simply tilling the lawn isn’t sufficient, Josh explained, because the roots are still there and the grass could return.

While the temporary black plastic cover is admittedly not very eye pleasing, stepping into the Anderson’s backyard, where the xeriscaping process is complete, reveals a beautiful and inviting area with very little lawn but a whole lot of greenery and eye-popping color. One of the best parts, according to Josh and Susan, is that xeriscaping, or waterwise landscaping, uses about one-quarter the water of a traditional lawn once the landscaping is established.

Karl Foerster grass, salvia, blanket flower, echinacea, lavender, columbine, yarrow, butterfly bush, sunflowers, Russian sage, lupine, bee balm and more are strategically placed around the yard, which Josh said is frequented by more birds than ever visited when the yard was all lawn.

The Andersons are big fans of waterwise landscaping, particularly because Susan has a degree in horticulture. The two admit the transition from a tradition lawn to xeriscaping can be quite a bit of work, including a lot of advance planning to determine what types of plants can successfully grow in the area and then planning where to put each type of plant for aesthetics.

Josh said Susan’s knowledge on the topic was very helpful for them; however, they also turned to local experts Barb Martinez and Leanne Hutchinson of Good to Grow Farms for advice and assistance.

A visit to Good to Grow Farms can easily turn into hours spent touring the food gardens and the grounds of the Martinez and Hutchinson homes, where lawn is almost nonexistent but beauty is everywhere — definitive proof that it is possible to employ xeriscaping concepts without sacrificing a thing.

Barb and Leanne said one of the first things they want people to understand is that xeriscaping does not mean zero scaping or having nothing but rock. It also doesn’t mean a sun-baked, parched landscape. Walking the grounds, the two pointed out the multiple types of ground cover and drought-resistant flowers, shrubs and trees that abound on the property. Martinez explained that the trick to xeriscaping is to cultivate drought-resistant plants, which in our area can include peonies, irises, day lilies and lilacs, to name a few. She also mentioned a type of crabapple tree that is sterile, producing the spring blooms but without the fruit to fall to the ground and potentially create more work and mess.

“Xeriscaping doesn’t mean there’s no maintenance,” she said, noting that it takes at least a year to establish perennial plants and longer to establish trees and shrubs. In that first year, water requirements may be comparable to a lawn; however, she pointed out many areas on the property that had only been watered once so far this year yet were still hosting green vegetation.

Martinez also explained the need to completely kill lawn when transitioning to xeriscaping, saying, “You need to start with a clean palette and get rid of that lawn.” She also stressed the need to put fencing around trees that may need to be protected from deer and wildlife. She said it’s also important to consider ground cover, whether in the form of ground cover plants, such as clover or sweet woodruff, or some type of weed barrier covered by mulch or bark that can break down and provide nutrients to the soil.

Hutchinson and Martinez said there are many factors to consider in xeriscaping, including the amount of sun or shade plants would receive in a given area, as well as bloom times. They explained the area between their two homes is awash in color all season long since they planned their planting to ensure different bloom times and selected plants with leaves that change color through the seasons. “People notice the spring blooms, but it’s more than that,” said Martinez. “It’s the textures and leaves and tree shapes throughout the seasons.” She added, “It’s also important to think about how the future and how big plants will be when they mature. For example, an aspen won’t just be one tree; it’ll end up being a grove when it spreads out.”

Even for those who may be reluctant to take the leap into xeriscaping, the two said there are steps that can be taken for lawns to help reduce water usage. They recommended putting lawnmowers on the highest setting and leaving them there, keeping grass longer. They also pointed out that grass can be allowed to go dormant in times of drought when watering isn’t recommended or even possible. “It’ll come back when you’re able to water it again,” said Martinez.

For those ready to begin considering xeriscaping, the two said they recommended doing ample research first by investigating what types of plants do best in their area, including just looking around the neighborhood and nearby areas to see what’s growing.

What’s clear from visiting with Martinez and Hutchinson, as well as the Andersons, is that it is possible to transition away from a traditional yard with an expansive green lawn to something equally, or even more, beautiful, yet able to withstand drought and use significantly less water. “Xeriscaping can be beautiful,” said Martinez.