The Stars Of Inside Out On The Best Way To Save Water In Your Yard

Which would you think uses more water, running the shower for four days straight or watering your lawn seven days a week for 20 minutes? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the answer (which may surprise you) is that a week of watering the average lawn uses as much water as 800 showers. Half of that water will evaporate or run off before it even reaches the roots of your grass and other plants. Vibrant green lawns may be beautiful and fun to utilize in the summer, but they can hardly seem worth the amount of time, effort, and irrigation that goes into maintaining them, especially if you live in a hot and dry climate like Texas or Southern California. 

So, what should you do if you want to get that same degree of curb appeal without wasting so much water or hard-earned money? Just ask Carmine Sabatella and Mike Pyle, stars of the HGTV hit series "Inside Out," a home improvement show that incorporates smart landscaping techniques to benefit your entire property. In an interview with Realtor.com, the team revealed some of their best advice for reducing water usage in your yard. Here's what the stars had to say. 

A low-maintenance lawn is the best way to save on your water bill, and there are plenty of ways to get creative and still have a beautiful yard. Mike Pyle told Realtor.com, "You don't necessarily have to have grass. You can expand your space and [use] decomposed granite out there [to] create a seating area and save on water that way." In addition to granite or stone, Pyle recommends looking for native and drought-resistant plants that will thrive without much water. "Succulents are pretty," he adds. "There's a lot of great species out there, and [cacti] are great, too. You soak them once a week, and they're good to go. You can neglect them, and they tend to thrive. So, that's always something great to implement within your space."

Pyle's ideas aren't just wise and thrifty; they reflect a larger trend in landscaping overall. Curated lawns may soon become a thing of the past as young homeowners and prospective buyers drift toward the latest ungardening trend, which involves more eco-conscious and sustainable landscaping. According to Permaculture News, there's a rising wave of rebelliously planted fruit trees, native plants, and wildflowers in lieu of lawns. These landscapes provide crucial habitats for pollinators and other small animals, and they can benefit their owners by providing food and shade, lowering water bills, and preventing soil erosion.

Speaking of shade, to save even more water, consider planting a few ornamental trees or fruit trees that will block out some of the harsh sun. The Arbor Day Foundation recommends oaks, northern catalpas, or a Scots pine to provide lots of shade while withstanding blazing hot temperatures. Once established, trees are able to draw water from deeper in the earth, so they don't need to be watered as frequently as does shallow grass. Their shade can also keep water from evaporating quickly in the sun, giving grass and other plants more time to soak it in. 

Of course, on a show like "Inside Out," it's important to understand how your landscaping choices can also help or harm your overall home. Planting trees can do more than shave money off your water bill; they can reduce other utility usage and put even more money back into your pocket. Carmine Sabatella tells Realtor.com, "When Mike does his exterior, he'll oftentimes plant mature trees around windows, so that when they do grow after a few years, [you've] got some shade coming into the interior spaces. You're not having a lot of heat [coming in], which is ultimately going to affect how often you're running your AC."