By Teagan Rasche

‘Drought-tolerant plants’ can make your yard more sustainable

Jul 29, 2021 | 2:41 PM

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Immersed in southern Alberta’s natural landscape in Police Point Park is the Medicine Hat Interpretive Program.

Chief park interpreter Corlaine Gardner says lawns aren’t adaptable for our conditions with dry hot summers and minimal rain.

She’s a big advocate of xeriscaping, a way to embrace sustainable landscaping and minimize the amount of water being used.

“If we can get into the cycle of the seasons and what plants are actually trying to do, it will be a lot less work for us,” Gardner said.

She says it’s more eco-friendly and can attract birds and butterflies.

Missing person

Family of man found dead in Saskatoon dumpster call for answers

12m ago

Valencia CF Academy

"I just want to play at the highest level": Little Pine athlete joins elite soccer academy

3h ago

resignation

Tisdale mayor resigns

11h ago

You don’t have to look far to find a xeriscape example. Medicine Hat College has a demonstration garden.

Brent Smith with the Environment Reclamation Program at the college says it’s a way to embrace sustainable landscaping and minimize the amount of water being used.

“Using drought-tolerant plants, it’s using rainwater that falls off of your roof rather than relying on city water to irrigate your plants,” Smith said.

He says there’s water stress everywhere and it has a big impact on climate change.

As demand and global temperatures go up, Smith encourages people to consider reducing personal consumption.

“The questions we need to ask as a society are is that water best used to water lawns or is it best used to support agriculture,” Smith said.

He says one of the best ways to do this is by replacing a typical lawn with a drought-tolerant plant oasis.

Gardner suggests planting native species.

“There’s shrubs, there’s trees, there’s perennial flowers, there’s a whole range you can use and depending on the look you want and whether you can catch some rain water and direct that to some of the ones that need a little more,” Gardner said.

If you’re looking to get started, Gardner suggests starting by reducing your lawn size and planting along the borders.