Urban Conservation
No matter where we live, everyone has a role in conserving our natural resources.
The South Platte NRD helps urban residents with this important task with a variety of projects.
Xeriscape
For all of us here in the southern Panhandle, water is a vital concern. Water is a limited and fragile resource.
For most of the country, over 50 percent of residential water is applied to landscapes and lawns. Xeriscape (pronounced Zeer'-ah-scape) can reduce landscape water use by 70 percent or more.
In other words, Xeriscaping is "common sense gardening." It means less water, less fertilizer, less maintenance and less expense--but certainly a no less beautiful yard. The idea is to replace part of your lawn with plants that are naturally adapted to our dry climate. Adding organic mulches such as wood chips around the plants holds moisture in the soil, helps prevent weeds and adds nutrients to the soil.
Xeriscape plants, once established, can usually survive on rain water alone. It just takes some planning.
If you'd like more information about adding a Xeriscape area to part of your lawn, visit a local Xeriscape demonstration site to see which plants you like and which grow best here in the southern Panhandle. Sites are located at the South Platte NRD office at 551 Parkland Drive in Sidney, the Cheyenne County Courthouse in Sidney and at the Chappell High School. The NRD has a list of Xeriscape nurseries you can order plants from.
Buffalograss Lawns
Buffalograss has made a big difference when it comes to urban conservation efforts. Since 2005, District residents have replaced about 38,000 sq. ft. of lawns converted to buffalograss through the Cash For Grass Program. The resulting savings in lawn watering could be more than 500,000 gallons each year.
Buffalograss has been deemed a good alternative choice for its benefits in several areas. In most cases .5 to 1 lbs of nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. is appropriate for a low to medium maintenance turf, about one-third the amount required for a healthy cool grass lawn. In addition, maintaining buffalograss has a lower water requirement, approximately 50-75% less than cool season grasses, depending on conditions. Less water application greatly reduces the chances of nitrogen leaching into ground water, lessens the chance for runoff into storm drains and has the added benefit of less water being drawn from the aquifer. Buffalograss also is less susceptible to many of the pests associated with traditional turf grass, potentially reducing the amount of pesticides used.