Green Is Better

We live in California. For the past decade, just about all we can recall hearing is "save water". And it's true; we do need to conserve water wherever possible. Most of us just assumed that this meant letting our landscaping die. That's where we were wrong... Green is better!

As property owners, we all recognize the beauty of landscaping. But, did you know that effective landscaping uses relatively little water, helps protect our environment, and saves us money too?

The majority of California's water supply is allocated to meet agricultural, commercial, industrial, indoor residential and governmental requirements. Apparently, less than 4 percent of California's total developed water supply is used for landscaping our homes, businesses, parks and roadways.

A well-designed and efficiently watered urban landscape is actually good for our ecosystem:

* A single tree consumes 26 lbs. of carbon dioxide each year (the same amount spewed by one car every 11,000 miles).

* A 2,500 sq. ft. lawn supplies enough oxygen for a family of four.

* An average front lawn has the cooling effect of 10 tons of air conditioning while absorbing air pollution.

* Landscaping reduces noise pollution (as much as 50% in some places).

On the 'home front', effective landscaping can save up to 40 percent of energy costs by soaking up summer heat, providing shade and releasing moisture into the air. A well-landscaped yard can increase property value 7.5 % and theoretically speeds up selling time. And, the average cost of replacing landscaping that has been allowed to die is $8,000. What more do we need to hear?

Even during a severe drought year, letting your landscaping die entirely may be wasteful and unnecessary. As long as your irrigation systems are well-designed and in good working order, maintaining a green environment is not wasteful, and actually has a beneficial effect. A dead landscape elimi-nates a major source of fresh oxygen in urban areas, and worsens the effects of air pollution. In addition, 'keeping green' helps keep us cool which reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, and also helps eliminate erosion and the threat of wildfires in our terminally dry environment.

During times of drought, people may attempt to conserve water by letting their landscapes die. This, however, is not the answer to the problem. A well-landscaped yard provides more than just visual appeal; trees and plants offer many benefits to California neighborhoods, even during times of limited rainfall.

For example:

·According to Southern California Edison (SCE), a properly landscaped home can cut heating and cooling costs by as much as 40 percent.

·Temperatures in flourishing grassy areas are 25 degrees cooler than bare dirt or dead grass. In fact, the front lawn of an average city lot cools the home at the same rate as a one-ton air conditioner.

·Deciduous trees planted on the south side of a home can help shade and cool it in the summer. In the winter, the same trees lose their leaves, allowing the sun to reflect on the home and warm its interior.

·Shrubs planted near an air-conditioning outlet can help cool the unit and make it run 2 to 4 percent more effi-ciently.

·Trees and plants offer important fire retardant to homes.
·Trees and plants are a convenient, inexpensive and efficient means of cleaning our air of carbon dioxide pollutants. Each tree inhales an estimated 28 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, the same amount emitted by 200 cars traveling a distance of 56 miles.

·Research at the University of Arizona indicates that trees and plants actually reduce the need for water through their shading, cooling and transpiration abilities. In essence, plants and trees help us to conserve water.

·According to a 1991 survey conducted by the California Association of Nurserymen of nearly 200 top California appraisers and realtors, a well-landscaped home increases property value by 7.5 percent and speeds the rate of sale by five to six weeks.

So once again, a drought climate does not mean zero or even minimal landscaping for your home. In fact, a well-designed landscape with efficient irrigation systems will actually save you money, and improve the beauty and quality of your environment.

Information for this article was obtained from "More Than Meets The Eye", by the Cahfornia Association of
Nurserymen and"Guilt-Free Gardening" published by the Council ForA Green Environment.