Is your lawn a nice toasty brown color these days? If so you might be looking at replacing your turf this fall. If you are in Austin you might be eligable for the City of Austin's Landscape Conversion Incentives. Check out the information on rebates for switching your water hungry lawn to a more drought tolerant option - Landscape Conversion Incentive: Lawn Remodel Option

If you are looking for my drought friendly options for your lawn, I'd suggest making some of the following changes as well:

1. Deliberate lawn - decide where you actually need lawn. For instance, areas for a dog run or for children to play. Avoid the desire to sod the entire property.

2. Expand planting beds and add native plants.
3. Explore the possibilities of gravel as a groundcover.


4. Create a native grass meadow (note - anything done with hydromulch or seed will need an initial installation of water - lots and lots of water - to get sprouted and rooted).

5. Most important - build up your soil!!! COMPOST COMPOST COMPOST!

If you are really serious about reducing the amount of water your landscape needs while maintaining a beautiful landscape, start looking at garden magazines and sustainability books for ideas. Also a consultation with a designer will help you flesh out your desires and a design will get you on your way to water savings.