VICTORVILLE, Calif. — Victor Valley water agency officials intend to dispel the myth that landscaping in the High Desert has to be high maintenance, or of low interest.
That's right, it is possible to have a green thumb and avoid a barren yard that sticks out like a sore thumb. The recently revised "Guide to High Desert Landscaping" gives detailed instructions on how to cultivate a plot that requires minimal watering but appears lush and colorful.
"The biggest misconception is that it's all rock and cacti," says Amy Lyn De Zwart, spokeswoman for the Victor Valley Water District. "Actually there are very attractive trees, shrubs, groundcover and flowering plants that need little water."
There's not a lot of financial incentive to conserve. According to De Zwart, the average customer in Victorville pays just $20 a month for water, and each person uses 275 gallons a day. That's fully a third cheaper than the average Californian's bill of $30 for just 184 gallons used per person daily.
But water agency officials warn that those costs will only go up. Recent court rulings have decreased the amount of water that can be pumped from the ground for free. With those escalating restrictions, combined with thirsty communities' growth, the need to buy aqueduct water looms ever larger.
Kirby Brill, general manager of the Mojave Water Agency, said conservation is just one part of his long-term strategy for ensuring sustainable water supplies in the future. But of the options — which include buying water, and exploring other sources — it's the cheapest.
"A Guide to High Desert Landscaping" provides lists of drought-tolerable plants, as well as step-by-step instructions for evaluating soil quality, landscape design and yard care, including composting and irrigation techniques.
Source: The Daily Press