[et_pb_section fb_built="1" fullwidth="on" _builder_version="3.22" background_color="#f7f7f7" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_fullwidth_header title="Water-Efficient Landscaping" subhead="New Residential" text_orientation="center" content_max_width="none" _builder_version="4.14.9" background_color="rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)" background_layout="light" global_colors_info="{}" button_one_text_size__hover_enabled="off" button_two_text_size__hover_enabled="off" button_one_text_color__hover_enabled="off" button_two_text_color__hover_enabled="off" button_one_border_width__hover_enabled="off" button_two_border_width__hover_enabled="off" button_one_border_color__hover_enabled="off" button_two_border_color__hover_enabled="off" button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled="off" button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled="off" button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled="off" button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled="off" button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled="off" button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled="off"][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.14.8" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row column_structure="2_3,1_3" _builder_version="4.14.8" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" width="90%" max_width="1200px" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="2_3" _builder_version="4.14.8" custom_padding="||||false|false" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.14.9" _module_preset="default" custom_padding="||5px|||" global_colors_info="{}"]<h2><strong><b>What is Water-Efficient Landscaping?</b></strong></h2>
<p>Water-efficient landscaping refers to several different terms, such as water-wise, water-smart low-water, and natural landscaping that all rely on the same basic principles.<a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_edn1" name="_ednref1"><sup>[1]</sup></a><span> </span>Xeriscape landscaping, for example, includes landscaping that conserves water and protects water quality by utilizing landscape designs and plantings suited to local conditions.  Most water efficient landscaping approaches incorporate the following suggestions:<a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_edn2" name="_ednref2"><sup>[2]</sup></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Group plants according to their watering needs.</li>
<li>Use native and adapted plants (see<span> </span><em><i>Native and Adapted Plants</i></em>).</li>
<li>Limit turf areas (see<span> </span><em><i>Turf Grass Reduction</i></em>).</li>
<li>Use efficient irrigation systems and watering schedules (see<span> </span><em><i>Smart Sensors and Controls</i></em>).</li>
<li>Start with healthy soil and add mulch to retain moisture.</li>
<li>Provide regular maintenance.</li>
</ul>
<p>The US EPA estimates that the average family of four uses about 400 gallons of water per day, 30 percent for outdoor use. Landscape irrigation accounts for more than one-third of all residential water use nationwide. Water use depends on location and climate, but in some areas, up to 50 percent of water used to irrigate may be lost to evaporation, wind, and improper system design or overwatering.<a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_edn3" name="_ednref3"><sup>[3]</sup></a><span> </span>Minimizing or eliminating the use of potable water for irrigation can conserve clean water for the benefit of the environment and the community.</p>
<ul></ul>
<h2></h2>
<p><span></span></p>[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.14.9" _module_preset="default" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"][caption id="attachment_516" align="aligncenter" width="1172"]<img class="wp-image-516 size-full" src="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/NR-Water-Efficient-Landscaping-Fig-1.png" alt="Figure 1 – Non-Xeriscaping (left) and Xeriscaping (right) (Source: US EPA – Water Efficient Landscaping)" width="1172" height="668" /> Figure 1 – Non-Xeriscaping (left) and Xeriscaping (right) (Source: US EPA – Water Efficient Landscaping)[/caption][/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.14.9" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"]<h2><strong><b>How to Implement Water-Efficient Landscapes</b></strong></h2>
<p>Design landscapes that rely on natural rainfall and only require supplemental irrigation during the plants’ initial establishment period. Use native and appropriate non-native vegetation adapted to site conditions and climate (see<span> </span><em><i>Native and Adapted Plants</i></em>). Group plants with similar water requirements to maximize irrigation efficiency and use climate-based controllers for irrigation systems to lower water consumption. Consider using non-potable water for irrigation (see<span> </span><em><i>Rain Barrels and Cisterns</i></em>, and<span> </span><em><i>Onsite Alternative Water Reuse</i></em>).<a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_edn4" name="_ednref4"><sup>[4]</sup></a></p>
<p>For more information, refer to US EPA’s WaterSense Water-Smart Landscaping Design Guide.</p>
<p>For location specific information, refer to your county extension service, and local garden and nursery centers.</p>
<h2><strong><b>Benefits</b></strong></h2>
<p><strong><b> </b></strong>Economic:</p>
<ul>
<li>Lowers water bills – careful design and choice of appropriate plants can reduce outdoor water use by 20 to 50 percent.<a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_edn5" name="_ednref5"><sup>[5]</sup></a></li>
<li>Increases home values – attractive, water-efficient landscaping may increase property values.</li>
<li>Saves money spent on landscape maintenance because many water-efficient plants require less care.</li>
<li>Reduces tax burden by reducing stress on the municipal water infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><b> </b></strong>Environmental:</p>
<ul>
<li>Conserves natural resources.</li>
<li>Protects against habitat loss and increases biodiversity by introducing native plants</li>
<li>Lowers energy use due to less pumping and treatment of water.</li>
<li>Reduces stormwater and irrigation runoff that transport top soils and pollutants into waterways.</li>
</ul>
<p>Personal Wellness:</p>
<ul>
<li>Saves time spent on landscaping.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong><b>Costs</b></strong></h2>
<p>The cost of water-efficient landscaping does not exceed the cost of conventional landscaping. The cost and cost-savings of water-efficient landscaping vary depending on the local cost of water. Converting irrigated turf lawns to ground covers or mulched areas can result in considerable cost savings. Changing watering schedule and landscape management without making any physical changes in the landscape may save water. A study by the UGA Cooperative Extension notes that converting 1,000 square feet of irrigated area to a non-irrigated area may save up homeowners an estimated minimum of $60 per year.<a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_edn6" name="_ednref6"><sup>[6]</sup></a></p>
<p>Incentives for homeowners may be available through the<span> </span><a href="http://epa.gov/watersense">US EPA’s WaterSense</a><span> </span>program. The program assists homeowners in improving water efficiency and reducing costs by promoting efficient irrigation technologies such as weather-based irrigation controllers and soil moisture sensors.</p>
<h2><strong><b>Resiliency</b></strong></h2>
<p>Water-efficient landscaping increases resiliency by decreasing the reliance and stress on municipal water infrastructure and supply, and by supporting local ecosystems that are drought tolerant (see<span> </span><em><i>Emergency Water Supply and Storage</i></em>).</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_ednref1" name="_edn1"><sup>[1]</sup></a><span> </span>US EPA. Water-Efficient Landscaping: Preventing Pollution &amp; Using Resources Wisely.<span> </span><a href="https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/waterefficiency.pdf">https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/waterefficiency.pdf</a><span> </span>(accessed March 22, 2018).</p>
<p><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_ednref2" name="_edn2"><sup>[2]</sup></a><span> </span>US EPA. Water-Efficient Landscaping: Preventing Pollution &amp; Using Resources Wisely.<span> </span><a href="https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/waterefficiency.pdf">https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/waterefficiency.pdf</a>  (accessed March 22, 2018).</p>
<p><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_ednref3" name="_edn3"><sup>[3]</sup></a><span> </span>US EPA. Outdoor Water Use in the United States.<span> </span><a href="https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/P1004XFX.TXT?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&amp;Client=EPA&amp;Index=2006+Thru+2010&amp;Docs=&amp;Query=&amp;Time=&amp;EndTime=&amp;SearchMethod=1&amp;TocRestrict=n&amp;Toc=&amp;TocEntry=&amp;QField=&amp;QFieldYear=&amp;QFieldMonth=&amp;QFieldDay=&amp;IntQFieldOp=0&amp;ExtQFieldOp=0&amp;XmlQuery=&amp;File=D%3A%5Czyfiles%5CIndex%20Data%5C06thru10%5CTxt%5C00000010%5CP1004XFX.txt&amp;User=ANONYMOUS&amp;Password=anonymous&amp;SortMethod=h%7C-&amp;MaximumDocuments=1&amp;FuzzyDegree=0&amp;ImageQuality=r75g8/r75g8/x150y150g16/i425&amp;Display=hpfr&amp;DefSeekPage=x&amp;SearchBack=ZyActionL&amp;Back=ZyActionS&amp;BackDesc=Results%20page&amp;MaximumPages=1&amp;ZyEntry=1&amp;SeekPage=x&amp;ZyPURL">Link</a><span> </span>(accessed April 15, 2018).</p>
<p><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_ednref4" name="_edn4"><sup>[4]</sup></a><span> </span>Dr. Steve Windhager, University of Texas School of Architecture. <span> </span><em><i>Sustainable Sites<span> </span></i></em> <a href="https://soa.utexas.edu/sites/default/disk/urban_ecosystems/urban_ecosystems/09_03_fa_windhager_calaci_ml.pdf">https://soa.utexas.edu/sites/default/disk/urban_ecosystems/urban_ecosystems/09_03_fa_windhager_calaci_ml.pdf</a><span> </span>(accessed April 15, 2018).</p>
<p><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_ednref5" name="_edn5"><sup>[5]</sup></a><span> </span>US EPA. Outdoor Water Use in the United States.<span> </span><a href="https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/P1004XFX.TXT?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&amp;Client=EPA&amp;Index=2006+Thru+2010&amp;Docs=&amp;Query=&amp;Time=&amp;EndTime=&amp;SearchMethod=1&amp;TocRestrict=n&amp;Toc=&amp;TocEntry=&amp;QField=&amp;QFieldYear=&amp;QFieldMonth=&amp;QFieldDay=&amp;IntQFieldOp=0&amp;ExtQFieldOp=0&amp;XmlQuery=&amp;File=D%3A%5Czyfiles%5CIndex%20Data%5C06thru10%5CTxt%5C00000010%5CP1004XFX.txt&amp;User=ANONYMOUS&amp;Password=anonymous&amp;SortMethod=h%7C-&amp;MaximumDocuments=1&amp;FuzzyDegree=0&amp;ImageQuality=r75g8/r75g8/x150y150g16/i425&amp;Display=hpfr&amp;DefSeekPage=x&amp;SearchBack=ZyActionL&amp;Back=ZyActionS&amp;BackDesc=Results%20page&amp;MaximumPages=1&amp;ZyEntry=1&amp;SeekPage=x&amp;ZyPURL">Link</a>  (accessed April 15, 2018).</p>
<p><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-water-efficient-landscaping/#_ednref6" name="_edn6"><sup>[6]</sup></a><span> </span>UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension.<span> </span><em><i>A Guide to Developing a Water-Wise Landscape</i></em><span> </span><a href="https://athenaeum.libs.uga.edu/bitstream/handle/10724/12344/B1073.pdf?sequence=1&amp;isAllowed=y">https://athenaeum.libs.uga.edu/bitstream/handle/10724/12344/B1073.pdf?sequence=1&amp;isAllowed=y</a><span> </span>(accessed April 15, 2018).</p>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.14.8" custom_padding="||||false|false" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.14.9" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"]<h2>Related Strategies</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-emergency-water-supply-and-storage/">Emergency Water Supply and Storage</a></li>
<li><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-on-site-alternative-water-resuse/">On-Site Alternative Water Reuse</a></li>
<li><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-native-and-adapted-plants/">Native and Adapted Plants</a></li>
<li><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-rain-barrels-and-cisterns/">Rain Barrels and Cisterns</a></li>
<li><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-smart-sensors-and-controls/">Smart Sensors and Controls</a></li>
<li><a href="https://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/nr-turf-grass-reduction/">Turf Grass Reduction</a></li>
</ul>[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.14.9" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"]<h2>Resources</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220308160142/https://landscapeforlife.org/">Landscape for Life</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jerseyyards.org/">Jersey-Friendly Yards</a></li>
<li>NJ DEP
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.state.nj.us/dep/opsc/docs/Sustainable_Landscape.pdf">Creating Sustainable Communities – A Guide for Developers and Communities</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nj.gov/dep/drought/index.html">Drought Information</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nj.gov/dep/gi/">Green Infrastructure</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="http://njwatersavers.rutgers.edu/For%20Residents_Introduction.html">NJ Water Savers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=E341">Rutgers NJ Agriculture Experiment Station – Landscaping for Water Conservation</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sustainablesites.org/">Sustainable Sites Initiative</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.epa.gov/watersense/landscaping-tips">US EPA: WaterSense – Landscaping Tips</a></li>
</ul>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]