What it means. Water-wise landscaping refers to the cultivation of lush, beautiful yards that require minimal irrigation. You might also see it referred to as xeriscaping, especially if you live in the southwestern United States, where the practice gained traction in the late 1970s. Xeriscape is actually a trademark of the Denver Water utility, so water-wise landscaping has emerged as the generic term.

Why the buzz? Water conservation is one hot topic, especially now that half of all U.S. states are in some level of drought condition, according to the National Weather Service. (Refer to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook map to see which states are the driest. The map shown here was released on March 20, 2008.) And the water issue is only going to become more prominent. “Within the next 10 years, more than two thirds of the states in the nation will likely be short on water—even under non-drought conditions,” notes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a brochure on water-efficient landscapes.

Water-wise landscaping goes beyond lawn care. In fact, one of its key goals is to minimize the amount of turfgrass in yards by incorporating less-thirsty plants, including groundcovers and ornamental grass, and dry elements like patios and gravel gardens into the design plan.

In our latest report on lawn care (in the May 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, on sale and on ConsumerReports.org the week of April 7), we talk about the need for smart watering practices, noting that half of the water applied to residential yards is lost to evaporation, wind, or run off. The rule of thumb for lawn irrigation is to water deeply but infrequently, and to always water in the morning, when the winds are calm and temperatures aren’t so hot that the water will evaporate before it reaches the roots. Remember, grass is ready for a soak only if you leave footprints when you walk across it.

The EPA’s WaterSense program includes more than 300 certified landscape professionals nationwide who can design efficient irrigation systems or perform conservation audits on existing systems.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: See our Complete Lawn & Yard Guide for information on choosing turfgrasses, planting trees and shrubs, and more, and check out our new mower and tractor page, with updated Ratings of dozens of models. For information on Earth Day and greener living, visit our Earth Day Guide.