Alternative Ways Of Keeping Lawns Green During Drought

SANTA CLARITA (CBSLA.com) — The drought and the powerful Southern California sun have some residents coming up with creative ways of keeping their yards green.

Retired LA County Fire Capt. Mike Talbot may have hung up his firefighter hats for good, but he has not lost his distaste for dry brush.

"I hate seeing plants, lawns die. And I thought there's got to be a better way than just water two days a week," he said.

So he started coming up with water-saving strategies like purchasing a lightweight fabric cover to keep the water on his lawn from evaporating while still allowing sunlight in.

"That's actually his second scheme. He had another scheme where he actually did some trenching and some underground piping, I think, with holes in it," said neighbor Mike McGrath.

"My wife wasn't crazy about the idea. I've taken a lot of jokes from the neighbors," Talbot said.

But with unrelenting triple-digit heat, comes torrid turf and lifeless lawns.

It's even changed demand at nurseries like Green Thumb in Santa Clarita.

"The majority of our customers come in looking for drought-tolerant plants," Val Bracken of Green Thumb. "It surprises people a lot that you actually can have pretty color and still have drought tolerance," she said.

Here some tips to keeping your grass green: Keep your lawns longer. Longer lawns do a better job at retaining moisture and standing up to the heat. Avoid fertilizer and watering in the heat of the day.

While neighbors may laugh at Talbot's ways, they admit his crafty conservation schemes seem to be working.

"His grass is probably greener than mine, so it may work," McGrath said.