Xeriscaping is becoming common in Sacramento. What constitutes a drought tolerant landscape?

Sacramentans can get paid up to $3,000 for saving water in the form of replacing their grassy yards with drought-tolerant landscaping.

Summer weather in Sacramento exacerbates ongoing drought conditions in the region, and the city has been promoting a program that incentivizes residents to switch to a “drought-tolerant landscape” in their yards.

“As climate change continues to affect the way we run our daily lives, more people will start to see these landscapes,” city spokesman Carlos Eliason said.

But what exactly is xeriscaping and what can it look like in California?

The Bee spoke to department of water utilities’ spokesman Eliason on the purpose and appearance of xeriscaping, as well as the city’s requirements for a grass converted landscape.

What is xeriscaping?

In short, xeriscaping is a gardening style that uses little water beyond what the climate provides, according to National Geographic.

The term was first coined by the Denver water utility agency and has since been embraced in the dry regions of the western U.S. It is derived from the Greek word xeros, which means dry — not zero, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac.

This is different from “zeroscaping” which could imply using no water at all and suggest a barren or sparse landscape.

Eliason added the city prefers the terms “drought tolerant” and “water efficient” in order to not put people in a “pigeon hole” when it comes to landscaping their homes.

“We like to grow a diversity of landscapes and that diversity should use less water or at least use water efficiently,” he said.

In general, drought-tolerant landscapes aim to make an impact on helping drought conditions in the area and can also benefit the environment by providing a home to birds, pollinators and insects.

“If you have more drought tolerant landscaping, you have more environments for these types of animals to thrive, so they’re more useful than grass,” Eliason said.

He added that water efficient landscapes are also practical and can require less maintenance, especially when opting to use a drip irrigation system.

What can they look like?

Contrary to popular belief, xeriscaping isn’t limited to desert-like landscapes.

In fact, a drought tolerant landscape can take form in several different ways — ranging from lush, green lawns to arid, dry yards, depending on people’s preferences, Eliason said.

“Thematically, because we like to promote biodiversity, you can have a range of themes,” he said. “One theme could be more desert-like ... another theme could be California native”

Some examples of colorful plants native to the Northern California region include yarrow, lavender rosemary, lacey blue sage, and olive and manzanita trees.

“You see drought tolerant landscapes, and it looks like something from a whimsical fairytale,” Eliason said. “They’re so visually appealing they kind of pop.”

How to get started?

Eliason recommends first calling the city before considering plans on a drought-tolerant landscape. There are no retroactive rebates available, so getting the city officials to approve plans beforehand is critical to being eligible for financial compensation.

One of the city’s main requirements for a drought-tolerant landscape is using non-invasive plants, which can include shrubs, trees and other groundcover plants.

Once fully matured, plants should cover 60% of the converted landscape in order to avoid rock landscapes that can contribute to the “heat island effect,” — an urban phenomenon when “hardscapes” like sidewalks, roads and rocks reflect and add more heat to surrounding areas.

“Plants don’t do that and if you have 60% plant coverage, you’re going to have a much cooler environment, so it’s not going to reflect as much heat into surrounding areas including the house,” Eliason said.

He added that plants also provide habitat for bugs, birds, insects and other life, and at least five plants are required to receive a rebate.

When it comes to watering your landscape, the city requires either watering by hand or using a drip irrigation system that uses a smart controller — which contains sensors that correlate with temperatures and weather conditions.

The last main requirement is using organic or inorganic mulch, which can be applied to areas that don’t have plants. Organic mulch, unlike rock, can prevent evaporation by soaking up water.

Some things that are explicitly not allowed in the grass converted landscapes include using non-licensed contractors and artificial grass, which contain certain chemicals

A full list of requirements for grass conversion projects can be found on the sacramentocityexpress.com.

For more questions, the city advises interested candidates to call 916-808-1337 or email riverfriendly@cityofsacramento.org.

This story was originally published July 23, 2022 at 5:00 AM.