If you’ve ever looked at photos from previous Water-Efficient Landscape Award winners’ properties and thought, “I can do better than that,” now’s your chance to prove it.
Truckee Meadows Water Authority holds the contest every year. (Full disclosure: RN&R is a sponsor this year.) It features homeowners and their water-wise landscapes. In the past, the awards have gone to people who’ve already created water-efficient yards. This year, it will highlight those with good proposals for doing so, and reward them with prizes that will help them pull it off.
TMWA is accepting proposals for resident’s landscape projects now through Aug. 5. The projects must address xeriscape principles, including proper planning for water conservation, beauty and function; soil improvement; proper irrigation and water efficiency; appropriate plant selection and grouping of plants into zones with similar water needs; use of mulch; and maintenance.
First-, second- and third-place winners will receive gift certificates to local garden shops, landscapers and nurseries to help them implement their plans.
For inspiration, a Landscape Awards tour and tree care workshop that feature three of last year’s winners will be held Saturday, June 25, beginning at Hug High School at 8:30 a.m. Then on two Saturdays in July, River School Farm will host xeriscape workshops at 9 a.m., on July 9, and at 1 p.m., on July 16. For more information, visit tmh20.org and tmwalandscapeguide.com.