Editorial: Think water when planting

Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006 | 7:30 a.m.

There are two reasons beyond just aesthetics why property owners in Las Vegas should be fully informed about plants and trees before they begin landscaping projects.

Both reasons, of course, are related to water, the Las Vegas Valley's most limited resource.

First, neglecting to understand how much water certain plants and trees consume can drive a water bill sky-high. The second reason is more altruistic.

At a time when the Southern Nevada Water Authority is seeking permits to pipe water from northern counties, it just doesn't look right for property here to be covered with non-native vegetation whose thirst remains steady by the hour.

On the grounds that Las Vegas will dry up without the northern supply, the Water Authority is proceeding with its pipeline plan despite objections from many ranchers and farmers. We support the plan, but we also empathize with residents of the northern counties when they point to landscaping here that reveals little concern for conservation.

This week the Las Vegas Sun reported on the thoughts of horticulturist Robert Morris, who has 22 years of planting experience here in the valley. He says property owners can make big mistakes, even when installing desert landscaping. He says people often plant too much vegetation as they seek instant beauty. Morris says sparsely planted grounds are far superior, as this will save a lot of water while giving the vegetation room to spread.

People often make the mistake, too, of forgetting which desert they are in, Morris said. Landscaping modeled after plants growing in the Sonoran desert of southwestern Arizona and southeastern California is a mistake, he said, as the Sonoran gets three times as much rain as our desert, which is the Mojave.

Morris' best advice was for property owners to stress diversity and sparseness as they plan their desert landscapes. After listening to him, we agree that the responsible course for property owners is to question their landscape designers thoroughly, and ensure that trees and plants are appropriate for our desert and that overplanting is avoided.