Even existing sprinkler systems can be modified to save water. Trees and shrubs thrive when they are watered correctly. A small lawn's sprinkler system can be set to water every four to five days, and it may only take 15 minutes to mow the entire area. If an oasis is not a possibility, consider shrinking the grass area and adding ground cover or other plants to reduce the amount of grass, Goodspeed says. Other alternatives include using ground covers to fill in areas around the yard.
Many ground covers can tolerate some foot traffic and other abuse.
They make nice fillers between rocks and stones, softening yardscapes and requiring less maintenance and time than a lawn. Make lawn alterations by late September so the seed is established by the time the water is shut off and the first hard freeze comes, he says. This allows the roots to keep growing and spreading throughout the fall. For more information, contact your local USU County Extension office. We offer our program to persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability.