Fresh water is precious! According to sources, only humans can only use 1 percent of earth’s water because 99 percent of it is salt water. In a recent post, we discussed how increased environmental consciousness has resulted in a shift in the landscaping industry from trendy large lawns to more water-wise landscapes with drought resistant plants.

If renovating the entire lawn may be too drastic and costly, there are still ways to limit the square footage to achieve a more environmentally responsible landscape. Plants will always need supplemental water (other than rain and snow moisture) in the first few years of growth, but once they have established their roots, they can thrive with significantly less water. New 2012 plant varieties are not only drought tolerant requiring little water, but they are also more disease resistant as well. Annie Huston of Columbine Design recommends pairing these new plants with an irrigation system that takes full advantage of new technology to distribute and direct water more efficiently. Here are a few other tips inspired by our friends at Monrovia Growers.

• Cut corners: Replace corners of lawn with shrubs and groundcovers.
• Plant savvy plants:  Stonecrop groundcovers like John Creech and Ice Plants like Fire Spinner and Sutherland Hardy are resistant and water-wise.
• Opt for colorful shrubs: Achieve a vibrant landscape with shrubs like Coronation Gold, Leon’s Purple Delight and Blue Balloon.
• Make it edible: Tasty plants like fig, olive trees, rosemary and sweet bay are also very easy plants to grow.
• Try trees: To provide delightful shade, plant trees like Desert Museum Palo Verde, Crape Myrtles and Centennial Spirit.

       Sweet bay                                                                         Desert Museum Palo Verde 

All photos via Monrovia