In the Western United States, water is often a controversial subject — even more so in the middle of a drought.
Federal, state and local politics affect water availability, allocation and use. And while an individual gardener might not have much input in these processes, they can and do make a substantial difference in how much and where water is used.
Because water use is such an important subject in landscaping, several columns over the next couple of months will address the how's and why's of water use. Finding solutions is never easy, but there are many ways to conserve water.
For most people, changes in water consumption are best implemented over time as we renovate and upgrade landscapes to more water-friendly crops.
In most gardens, turf grass is the major "crop" that is grown. It looks good, it's usually easy to maintain, it cools our environment, and it fits the social functions of our society.
It also takes water. Lots and lots of water! For that reason, turf grass is the place to start if you want to reduce your water use.
One of the most-frequent questions related to water conservation that I'm asked is, what can I plant that looks like my lawn, that is easy to maintain, that is soft and pleasant to sit and walk on but does not need any water?
Nothing fills the bill exactly, but there are some possible alternatives. Knowing more about grass and how it grows here in our desert climate will help determine future choices and planting decisions.
In Utah, most gardeners grow cool-season turf grasses. These grasses look best when temperatures hover between 60-75 degrees. When temperatures are much warmer, these grasses' growth rates slow and they require additional water. The major types of cool-season grasses are bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, perennial ryegrass and bent grass. Bluegrass is the most-common grass grown in Utah because of its looks and its ease to maintain. Paul G. Johnson, a turf grass professor at Utah State University, undoubtedly knows more about turf grasses than anyone else in the state. Johnson hails from a small farm in Iowa and comes to Utah by way of University of Minnesota and the University of Nebraska. Among the many aspects of his research, he is conducting replications of national turf grass trials here in Utah.
This is no small undertaking. In fact, he is growing more kinds of grass than most people ever thought possible. In addition to testing different varieties, Johnson and others are checking the ability of different kinds of turf to tolerate different levels of water use.
 | Deseret News graphic Comparing types of grassRequires Adobe Acrobat. |
Johnson is now growing 177 varieties of tall fescue, 156 varieties of perennial ryegrass and 154 varieties of bluegrass. In addition, he has or is currently working with buffalo grass, bent grass and fine fescue in an effort to determine how these different grasses perform under Utah's weather conditions.
So what will grow well in Utah?
According to Johnson, tall fescue is good alternative to bluegrass. "Tall fescue works well, tolerates heat and is a durable, environmentally tough grass," he said. "It probably uses 10 percent to 15 percent less water, but that is not significant because of variations in sprinkler systems."
There are many varieties of tall fescue. It's tough and takes a great deal of abuse, giving it excellent wear tolerance. This makes it suitable for athletic fields, parks and other high-use areas.
Perennial ryegrass is another option for turf grass in Utah. "Ryegrass is similar to bluegrass but needs a little higher maintenance," Johnson said. "It is planted because of its color and because it comes in quicker. Pure, perennial ryegrass is beautiful but is higher maintenance, and the difference in water use is not significant." he said.
Fine fescue thrives in shady areas. It is the most shade-tolerant grass and looks attractive, although the width of the blades is much thinner than any other types. Water savings with this grass is not highly significant, Johnson said.
Bent grass belongs on golf courses, not on homeowner's landscapes, he said. Bent grass is considered to be a weed by most homeowners, so let the golf superintendents deal with it.
On the water-conservation front, Johnson suggests homeowners look at buffalo grass, a low-growing, spreading grass. It can get by with about one-half the amount of water that bluegrass uses, he said. Buffalo grass is a warm-season grass, so it does not green up as early as the cool-season grass, but it tolerates the heat extremely well.
Wheatgrass, grammagrass and Turtle Turf are also drought tolerant.
Other types of grass for low water use lawns are several wheatgrasses, grammagrass, Turtle Turf and several others. Zoysia grass is not recommended in northern Utah, and Bermuda grass is considered to be a noxious weed in many parts of the state.
There is no one perfect grass. Each gardener should decide what grass to plant based on what they want their lawn to look like. But above all, each gardener should learn to manage his lawn and water it correctly. Simply planting different cool-season grass is not likely to save much water, but earning to water your grass correctly will.
Listen to Larry Sagers on the KSL Radio "Greenhouse Show" Saturday beginning at 8 a.m.
Larry A. Sagers is the regional horticulturist, Utah State University Extension, at Thanksgiving Point.