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Do You Water Too Much? One Utah Horticulturist Says Yes

Sprinklers water a grassy lawn.
westernviews.org
Beautiful landscaping doesn't need as much water as you think.

Some northern Utah communities are looking at implementing water restrictions due to the lack of rain and snowfall this season.

Restrictions are nothing new for residents in the southern part of the state. In Blanding home owners brag about their brown lawns, but for northern Utahns, it may  feel sinful.

“Outside of Utah, lawns are not so much a religion like they are here," said Taun Beddes, Utah County Horticulture Extension Agent with Utah State University. "And even though we live in a desert, up until fairly recently, we’ve usually had plenty of water resources. And outside of the intermountain west, especially, it’s perfectly acceptable for a lawn to brown out in the summer somewhat.”

Beddes said northern Utahns don’t have to sacrifice their landscape to conserve water.

“We can maintain our landscapes, as is, have them look as beautiful as they do and still conserve water," Beddes said. "The average homeowner in Utah uses double the water they need to on their lawns to keep it green. And just knowing this, if we conserve now, it will save us in the future from having, you know, Las Vegas or Phoenix style water restrictions.”

He said an established landscape will be just fine with weekly irrigation, and according to Beddes, conserving water is a mindset we all need to adopt.