• Xeriscaping saves water and money.grass,lawn image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  The EPA estimates that 30 to 60 percent of urban fresh water use goes to watering lawns. Xeriscaping is a method of landscaping that can allow you to have an attractive lawn and garden without wasting a lot of water. Careful consideration of the type and placement of grasses and plants in your yard can greatly reduce the amount of water needed to maintain them and also reduce the amount of work you need to do to maintain your yard.
  
  

Less Turf Grass

• Use ground cover plants to reduce the amount of turf grass in your yard.English Ivy image by Keith Pinto from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the University of Maryland Home and Garden Information center, your lawn is the most maintenance-intensive part of the landscape and requires more water per square foot than any other type of landscape planting. To reduce water consumption, reduce the amount of turf grass in your yard by planting larger flower beds and incorporating decorative stone, brick and wood elements in your landscape plan. Use attractive, drought-resistant ground cover plants such as St. Johnswort or creeping lily turf instead of grass on slopes, hillsides and along fences and walls. This will make your lawn attractive and require less work and water to maintain.
  
  

Drought-Tolerant Grass

• Planting the right type of grass can save water and also save you money. If you need to water the lawn less, your water bill will decrease. Over a period of a year, the savings could be substantial. According to the Washington State University Extension Service, a good tactic for xeriscaping lawn areas is to have smaller areas planted with "thirsty" grass surrounded by areas of drought-resistant grass and attractive native plant species. Drought-resistant grasses like fine fescue varieties are a good choice for cool-season grass. They require a lot less mowing, fertilizing and water than other turf grass varieties. Drought-resistant Buffalo grass is a good warm-season grass, and tall fescue has a deep root system that allows it to tolerate the heat of summer without a lot of extra irrigation. Check with your local Cooperative Extension service for a list of drought-tolerant turf grasses that work best in your area.
  
  

Proper Irrigation

• Sprinklers are best for watering your lawn.Park Sprinkler image by Gary Ng from Fotolia.com
  
  Many people don't know the best way to water their lawns. This can result in wasted water from overwatering as well as root rot damage to the grass. Water early in the day and time how long your sprinkler is running. After watering the lawn, use a spade or probe to see how deeply the water sank into the soil. Lawns need deep watering but when watered properly will require watering less often. According to North Carolina State University, sprinkler systems are best suited for watering turf grass areas. Drip irrigation can be used effectively for mulched areas and plantings. The key to good irrigation is to water thoroughly and only when it is needed. Learn the water requirements of the plants in your yard so that you can water them without waste.