Lose the lawn Rebates are here!

If you’ve ever thought about changing out your lawn for a waterwise garden NOW is the time!

The State Department of Water Resources (DWR) opened their Turf Replacement Rebate Program earlier this month. Rebates are $2 per square foot of lawn removed, up to 1,000 square feet of lawn or $2,000. You must have lawn – dead or alive – to qualify.

You are especially well qualified to be eligible for a rebate for two reasons. Kern County is one of the ten San Joaquin Valley counties where DWR is directing extra funding. Also, residents of the city of Tehachapi are qualified since it has been designated as a “disadvantaged community”. I say go for it!

Why is Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District (TCCWD) promoting a State program? Half of the water we use in Tehachapi Valley is imported from the California Aqueduct. This drought caused our imported water allocations to be drastically reduced by 95% in 2014, and 80% this year. With climate change and continued growth, future water supply will continue to be limited.

Replacing your lawn with a low water use landscape is a SUSTAINABLE water use reduction that will help us manage water for our future.

Here’s the tree hugger part: When I say “our future,” I hope to include the future of the birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Lawn, the few foundation shrubs, and the one tree installed in most subdivision homes would starve a butterfly if she had to live in one yard! Waterwise landscaping can include plants that provide nectar, pollen, and seeds for our non-human neighbors. Ok, the hugging is over.

What about maintenance of your new waterwise garden? This type of landscaping is promoted as being lower maintenance. Lower or not, you are trading maintenance.

The conventional landscape takes mowing and edging the lawn, hedging the hedges, and blowing and bagging the green waste. Did you know the mower and other gasoline engine landscape equipment puts out way more pollution than a car?

The waterwise garden takes pulling weeds, pruning the shrubs once a year if needed, keeping the leaves under the tree for mulch, and making a brush pile in the back corner for a little critter habitat (except for fire-prone areas).

Less air pollution, less waste to the landfill, no weed and feed multiple times a year. You can deadhead the flowers or leave them to go to seed for the little critters to eat (oops, sorry, I said hugging was over).

Look for an information flyer on the details of the Turf Replacement Rebate Program in your CSD office or at City Hall. Or go online to http://www.saveourwaterrebates.com to find out more.

Finally, contact me, Liz Block, for an individual consultation for your property that will help you get started down the right path to get your rebate AND have

a beautiful waterwise garden at (661) 822-5504 or email me at [email protected].