According to the weekly update (The State of California, 2022), California is experiencing its third drought of the century. More importantly, it’s facing a third consecutive year of an “extreme” drought. There are several issues California has faced due to water shortages that will continue to prove problematic. 

As the state continues to deal with rising temperatures, Californians believe they will see an extended fire season. La Nina conditions are also expected to continue through the winter season. The State of California (2022) has stated, “Our climate has changed” in their latest water supply strategy. 

With the future of California looking hot & dry, it’s important to know how to help conserve our water sources. The state is currently working on managing usage of the Colorado river basin. This water source is known to supply “roughly a third of all water for Southern California cities and suburbs”(PPIC 2018).  

The government has discussed several plans to make sure everyone has access to safe water. But what can the average homeowner do to cut down on a residential level to aid the water crisis? 

Landscape Irrigation

According to Hodel & Pittenger (2015), “landscape irrigation is estimated to account for about 50% of annual residential water consumption statewide” (p. 3). Their report clearly states that residential water use is only a small portion of the water scarcity problem. However, it’s still clear that the average homeowner in California spends most of their water on landscaping. 

There are many ideas the average homeowner can try to limit their use of water for their lawn. Hodel & Pettinger (2015) talk about avoiding woody plants and groundcovers by sticking to your typical grass landscape. They also mention limiting lawn areas to surfaces meant for play, exercise, and walking. 

As a homeowner you can also follow the University of California’s Lawn Watering Guide. The guide goes over three steps of how you can determine the amount of water you need for your lawn. By following these three steps you can continue watering your landscape without wasting too much water. 

Trying to lower your impact of water stress can come with a lot of math when following water guides. Luckily, there’s amazing alternatives to having grass lawns like artificial grass.

The Artificial Alternative

With water security in mind, choosing to install artificial turf is the eco-friendly thing to do. Using synthetic grass as an alternative to natural grass means you don’t have to use precious water resources. Your lawn will stay green year around, needing only the occasional hose-down to stay fresh. 

Artificial grass installation lowers maintenance costs without losing the aesthetic of green lawns throughout the state. Home or business, synthetic turf is a great alternative to real grass for Californians across the state. 

When choosing an alternative for your lawn, you want a high-quality synthetic grass product. Anyone can use fake grass to landscape. However, at Southwest Greens of Bakersfield, we offer quality turf products that are safe for the whole family. 

Saving More Than Just Water

You save more than just water when choosing our artificial turf products. Landscaping with synthetic grass fibers lowers lawn maintenance by erasing the need for fertilizer or mowing. This means our products are especially safe and beneficial for anyone with allergies. 

Our synthetic grass is also built to last through heavy foot traffic and play. The durable synthetic fibers are perfect for pets and kids who are known to tear up lawns. Our products can also be installed with shock absorption pads and cushions to ease falls in play areas. 

We also offer products built with  Hydrachill technology to keep surface temperatures cool throughout the inland heat. Your friends and family can safely play on our turf year around without worrying about burns. 

All these features make our synthetic turf the ideal solution to the extreme drought.

Eco-Friendly & Sacrifice Free

Aside from the clear environmental and safety benefits, artificial landscapes offer a fun, personalized experience. When your average person thinks about being eco-friendly, they usually consider the sacrifices that have to be made. Choosing to use artificial grass is both eco-friendly and fun. 

You’ll lose the lawn maintenance of your patchy, natural grass and you’ll have fun designing your new landscape. Our turf installers offer you several options for artificial grass and even provide an eco-friendly landscaping sample. The drought-tolerant choice lets you give your lawn personality without the upkeep. 

Southwest Greens of Bakersfield even offers backyard putting green  installation. The putting greens can be wrapped around a play area for the kids or strategically placed around your pet area. With our custom artificial turf installation, the options are endless. 

With the drought in mind, installing artificial turf is both eco-friendly and fun. Synthetic grass will help you save water, lower maintenance costs, and let you personalize your lawn. From play areas to pet areas Southwest Greens has you covered. 

Resources 

Hodel D. R. and Pittenger D. R. (2015, May) 9% Perspective on the California drought and-landscape water use. https://ucanr.edu/sites/UrbanHort/files/216568.pdf 

Public Policy Institute of California (2018, November) The Colorado River. https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/californias-water-the-colorado-river-november-2018.pdf 

State of California (2022, August) California’s Water Supply Strategy: Adapting to a hotter, drier future. https://resources.ca.gov/-/media/CNRA-Website/Files/Initiatives/Water-Resilience/CA-Water-Supply-Strategy.pdf 

State of California (2022, August) California Drought Update. https://drought.ca.gov/media/2022/08/Weekly-CA-Drought-Update-08222022-final.pdf 

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. (2001) Lawn Watering Guide for California. https://ucanr.edu/files/47995.pdf 

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We have always strived to offer the most competitive rates in our industry, and believe you’ll be surprised at just how affordable artificial grass can be. There are several other levels of affordability when it comes to our products, however, and many of them come to fruition after your installation is complete.

Go Artificial and Save

The upkeep involved in keeping a natural grass lawn looking its best requires an ongoing investment in terms of time and, most importantly, money. Consider for a moment the water alone it takes to keep grass green and healthy, especially during the hot summer months. Water bills tend to spike during summer in places like Bakersfield, and our lawns are a big reason why.

The great news is that artificial grass requires no water!

Our clients get a pass on higher water bills, and actually see their water bills drop when they switch to artificial grass. The ability to save each month on your water bills is a benefit that will add up over time.

Consider also the expenses associated with lawn maintenance. If you take care of your lawn by yourself, your investment in lawn care equipment, chemicals, fertilizers, etc. is an ongoing one. Should you choose to pay someone to care for your lawn, the cost of doing so is an ongoing investment as well.

Once again, the good news is that, just as it requires no watering, artificial grass requires very little in the way of maintenance as well!

Just think about it… no watering, mowing or fertilizing necessary. Now think what that means in terms of savings for you, and you can see why artificial grass is the cost effective way of keeping your outdoor space looking its best.

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We welcome your input at every turn, because when our clients are fully invested in the process the end result is one they will inevitably be thrilled with. Whether you are in the market for a putting green, play area, artificial lawn or another type of installation, we can create something special and memorable with your help.

There are many synthetic turf companies out there that look at things differently, and that may not be as open to your input as we are. We will certainly have our opinions and make our recommendations during the design and installation process, and this is as it should be. We place a great premium on the value of listening as well though, and want to take your vision and bring it to life for you.

The first step is an on-site consultation that will allow us to get a feel for your available space. From there we can begin a design process that we believe you’ll find inspiring. We have a number of incredible synthetic grass products for you to choose from, and can create a design that accentuates your outdoor space and its surroundings. Of course we’ll strive to keep your project within the confines of your budget.

There is a reason Southwest Greens has spent decades atop the artificial grass industry. Actually there are many reasons, but one of them is that we’ve always put the desires of our clients front and center. There is no reason in the world why the design and installation process should be stressful for you in any way. In fact, we believe the process should be enjoyable for you from start to finish!

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