A drought tolerant landscape consists of plants that require very little water, or no water at all. There is a surprisingly large number of trees, plants and shrubs that fit this bill. The New Braunfels Utility has come up with a very creative conservation effort, appropriately named, the Drought Tolerant Landscape Contest. If you have a great landscape that showcases drought tolerant plants and water conservation features, do this: enter it in NBU’s Drought Tolerant Landscape Contest and you could win bragging rights and be featured in NBU’s 2016 Drought Tolerant Landscape Calendar. You may have a landscape that is brand new or yours may be one that has served as a beautiful example of proper planning, plants, and water conservation features for many years. This is a great way to show off these creative and water efficient types of landscapes, and help educate others throughout the community on the benefits they provide. In addition to bragging rights, first place winners will receive double the amount they are eligible for under NBU’s Drought Tolerant Landscape Rebate, a custom yard sign to display, along with being showcased in the Utilities Calendar. Have fun and keep in mind, drought tolerant landscapes do not have to be a garden full of cactus! May the toughest plant win!
In your planning efforts, consider these things: Are the plants used drought tolerant and native to our region? Is landscape and turf functional? Does the design fit the surrounding environment and take advantage of property features? Is there an efficient use of water? What is the source of irrigation? Is irrigation designed to reduce runoff? If there is an automatic irrigation system, is there a rain sensor, irrigation meter, and/or drip beds/ soaker hoses? Is rainwater harvesting techniques utilized for irrigation?
