The document provides information on converting traditional landscapes to more water-efficient Localscapes that are better suited for Utah's climate. It discusses replacing lawn with low-water plantings and hardscaping, using a central lawn shape for recreation, and grouping elements into gathering spaces, activity zones, and paths. Examples show how the principles can transform both new and existing yards into Localscapes that save water and maintenance while providing useful outdoor spaces.

2. Instructor:
Cynthia Bee, Outreach Coordinator,
Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District

3. Localscapes.com

4. ConservationGardenPark.org

5. Conservation, new water supplies, and
new infrastructure
Source:
Governor’s Office
of Management
and Budget
-
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
6,000,000
Utah’s population growth

6. Conservation Progress and Approaches
2%
10% 15% 16% 19%
11%
2%
9% 16% 16% 20%
4% 11% 15%
0%
10%
20%
30%
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Situational Conservation
• Example:
Structural Conservation
• Example:

7. The Epiphany:
Landscapes should
be designed to fit
irrigation rather
than trying to force
irrigation to fit
landscapes.
Utah needs its own landscaping style

8. Homeowner Concerns:
• 82% want more Utah
specific landscape
information
• 43% experienced
frustration when selecting
the “right” plants
• ONLY 2% were fully
satisfied with their
landscapes

9. What does the public want?

10. PROS
• Lush and colorful all season
• High curb appeal
CONS
• Difficult to water efficiently
• High water use
• Many high-maintenance edges
and shapes to maintain
English-Style Landscape

11. Low-Density Xeriscape
PROS:
• Conserves Water
• Lower Maintenance
• Simple Irrigation
Cons:
• Low curb appeal
• Landscape is not useful

12. Landscape Spectrum
Traditional
Lawn-Dominant
Landscape “Zeroscape”
Localscapes Range
Yard typical to many Utahns
Yard type many Utahns are
afraid they’ll be told to have
Moderate approach advocated by Localscapes

13. The Localscapes House
Drawings & Design by Shaun Moser, Conservation Garden Park

14. 2. Gathering Areas
3. Activity Zones
1. Central Open Shape
4. Paths
5. Plantings
Localscape House- Plan View

16. • Sea of Green rests the
eye between busier
plantings.
• Conveys calm.
• Visually demonstrates
the power of positive/
negative space.
• Organizes space. When
lawn is a defined shape,
everything else APPEARS
“cleaner”.
Reason We Love Lawn
(That you may not realize)
Landscape installation by Aposhian Landscaping
Design by Conservation Garden Park staff

17. The New Lawn
Epiphany
• Lawn is a single,
central shape that is
a PLANNED element
in the landscape.
• Lawns are for active
recreation or serve as
an accent, they are
not a full-surface
groundcover.

18. What’s Wrong with This Design?
Obstacles in lawn make
mowing and edging
more time consuming.
Trees compete with lawn for
water = shallow roots/ stress.
Unfriendly front walk
= low curb appeal
Narrow bits of lawn are
impossible to water efficiently
+ high maintenance while
providing no useful benefit.
Lawn serves no purpose in
this location except to create
work with no reward.
Trees block yard view from
front door = safety concernThe whole yard is
boring = no reason to
be out here!
Overhead sprinklers in
planting beds = WAYYY
more weeds than drip-
irrigated + mulched beds.
Heat from foundation and
walkway bakes non-Utah
happy plants.
Lots of edges to maintain
next to concrete walk,
driveway etc. = more work
Lawn adjacent to concrete requires
more water to stay green =
overwatering rest of yard.
Illustration by Cynthia Bee

19. Why is This Design Better?
Portion of lawn
available for
recreational use =
ALL of it!
NO obstacles in lawn make
mowing and edging LESS
time consuming.
Trees do NOT compete with lawn
for water = happy trees.
Walkway enters from
sidewalk instead of the
driveway = increased safety
+ curb appeal
Narrow bits of lawn are
eliminated. All lawn is
functional. Strong central
shape organizes the space.
Front yard seating sends a
VERY warm and friendly vibe
= reduced maintenance +
curb appeal
Open view of yard from front
door = increased safety
Stepping stone path
creates sense of interest +
improves function.
Drip irrigation in planting
beds + 3-4” of mulch
reduces weeds 85% vs.
overhead watering- only
water the plants you want!
Utah-Happy plants can take
the heat from foundations
and walkways.
Very few lawn edges to maintain
next to concrete = time + water
savings.
Planted park strips with drip
irrigation keep overspray from
damaging roads + curb appeal.Illustration by Cynthia Bee

20. Drip Irrigation
Inefficient use
of lawn leads
to many areas
of overspray
Efficient
use of lawn
reduces
overspray
Irrigation cannot make an inefficiently designed landscape, efficient
Requires 17 sprinkler heads, 3 zones.
Requires 7 sprinkler heads, 1 sprinkler
zone and 1-2 drip irrigation zones.
Obstacles in
lawn reduce
efficiency and
create dry
spots.

21. • Lots of edges to maintain
• Grass is NOT useful
• Visually disorganized
• ONE edge to maintain
• ALL grass is useful
• Well organized, “clean” look
Island in Lawn VS. Lawn as Island

22. Localscapes for New
Landscapes

23. Step 1: Central Open Space – Front Yard

24. Step 1: Central Open Space-- Backyard

25. Common Residential Lot Shapes
Cul-De-Sac Rectangular Corner

26. Flexible Shapes Fit Any Landscape
• Rectangular Lot • Corner Lot • Cul-De-Sac Lot
Central Open Space design technique can be applied to ANY lot shape.

27. Central Open Spaces Can Fit Any Size Lot
• Large Lot
• Moderate Lot• Small Lot
• 20,000 sq. ft. or more
10,000- 20,000 sq. ft.5,000- 10,000 sq. ft.
Scale the shape to the size of the lot

28. A Lawnless Yard STILL Orients Around Central Open Space

29. Park Strip Lawn Removal
Lawn in parkstrips and side yards is removed
Follow us on Facebook for free design ideas you can copy! http://Facebook.com/ConservationGardenPark

30. Side Yard Solutions
Remove lawn from narrow spaces and instead create an inviting pass-through experience.

31. Step 2:
Gathering Spaces
“Hardscape” elements
including:
• Patios
• Informal Seating Areas
• Covered Seating
• Decks
• Storage/ Sheds
• Overflow Parking

32. Step 2: Gathering Spaces
• Rectangular Lot • Corner Lot • Cul De Sac Lot

33. Gathering Area Examples
Front yard gathering spaces Rear yard gathering spaces
Landscape Design by R. Michael Kelly Consultants
Installation by Rollins Landscaping

34. Creates a front porch for those without a front porch

35. Backyard seating areas extend the living space of the home

36. STEP 2: Gathering Area- Front Yard
Front Yard
Seating
Area

37. Step 2: Gathering Areas- Back Yard
Private
Seating
Area
Patio

38. Step 3:
Activity Zones
• Vegetable Gardens
• Children’s Play Area
• Storage
• Sport Courts
• Horseshoe Pit
• Trampoline
• Hot Tub
• Other active outdoor
recreation

39. Step 3: Activity Zones
Passive Activity Zones Play Spaces Vegetable Gardens & More

40. Designed Activities
Activity zones are intentionally created for a specific use- without lawn as surfacing.

41. Activity Zone Examples
Ornamental,
Un-Mowed
Meadow Grass
around
Trampoline
Faux Lawn
Putting Green

42. Step 3: Activity Zone- Back Yard
Children’s Play Area
Playground Bark Surfacing
Vegetable Garden
Raised Beds on Bark Mulch

43. Step 4- Paths
Connect the previous
elements with pathways.
• Use hard surfacing for
public paths.
• Soft surfacing, such as
gravel, can be used on
secondary paths.
Installation by Aposhian Landscaping

44. Step 4: Paths
Rectangular Lot Corner Lot Cul De Sac Lot
Primary
Path
Secondary Path
Primary Path
Secondary
Path
Primary
Paths
Secondary Path
Secondary
Path

45. Path Examples
Primary paths are those which serve as a
main artery to the home.
Pathway Surface Materials
Secondary Paths are those which provide
alternative routes or access to non-critical
spaces.
Primary Paths
Secondary Paths

46. Step 4: Paths- Front Yard
Primary Path
Continuous Hard SurfaceSecondary Path
Gravel, Stepping Stones etc.

47. Step 4: Paths- Back Yard

48. Step 5- Planting Beds
• Remaining space becomes planting
beds.
• Planting beds are ALWAYS irrigated
with drip or bubblers- saves water and
dramatically decreases weeds.
• Unlike lawn, efficiency of planting beds
is not dependent on shape.

49. Planting Beds
1. Trees 2. Shrubs & Grasses 3. Perennials & Groundcover
Add plantings, layer by layer

50. www.company.com
Standard Lot
Design complete
with the 5 steps.
50

51. www.company.com
Corner Lot
Functional +
Family Friendly
51

52. www.company.com
Cul-De-
Sac Lot
52
Very Low Water
+ Veggie &
Herb Gardens

53. Completed front yard design

54. Completed backyard design

57. Converting an Existing Yard
to a Localscape

58. Reverse the 5 steps to convert an existing yard to a Localscape.
BEFORE
AFTER
Do-it-yourself homeowner conversion to
a Localscape over a several year period.

59. Localscapes Hydrozoning
1)Lawn
Watered with spray
heads. Uses the
most water in the
landscape.
2) Planter Beds
Watered with drip
irrigation. Watered once
a week on average.

60. Typical Utah Front Yard

61. Phase 1: Flip Your Strip
Park strip sprinklers are usually on the same zone.
Overspray on road
= Spray Zone 1
= Spray Pattern

62. Park Strip Lawn Removal
Lawn in parkstrips and side yards is removed
Follow us on Facebook for free design ideas you can copy! http://Facebook.com/ConservationGardenPark

63. Retrofit some heads to drip, cap unused heads
= RETROFITTED Sprinker Head
= CAPPED Sprinker Head
= Drip Irrigation Tubing
TIP: No need to dig up all old pipe, cap off unnecessary spray heads.

64. Use a drip retrofit kit from your sprinkler brand.

65. BEFORE
AFTER
Remove Inefficient + high maintenance lawn park strip
Replace with water-efficient plants, mulch, and drip irrigation

66. Side Yard Solutions
Remove lawn from narrow spaces and instead create an inviting pass-through experience.

67. Side yard lawn before
needed here
Typical Utah Side Yard
Lawn often struggles in
side yards because
conditions are more
extreme. Too hot, too
shady, too much foot
traffic etc.

68. Phase 2: Switch the Side Yard
= RETROFITTED Sprinker Head
= CAPPED Sprinker Head
= Drip Irrigation Tubing

69. Existing sprinkler layout for front yard
Phase 2: Side Yard Switch + Anchor Island
= Spray Zone 1
= Spray Zone 2
= Spray Zone 3

70. Side Yard Plantings/ No Landscape Islands
Odd bits of lawn
removed, drip
irrigation installed.
Landscape island is anchored to side yard
= Capped
Heads
= Spray Zone 1 converted to drip
= Spray Zone 2, add 2 heads from Zone 1
= Spray Zone 3, remove 3 heads

71. Front yard layout before Phase 2
Phase 2- Change out side yards and anchor landscape island
BEFORE
AFTER

72. Phase 3- Lawn Becomes a Central Shape
= Spray Zone 2 add new drip lines/ emitters as needed
= Spray Zone 3, cap 4 heads, adjust spray pattern
= Spray Zone 4, cap remaining heads, convert to drip

73. Phase 2 Front Yard Layout
Completed Phase 3 Front Yard Layout

74. Front Yard Central Open Shape Example
Creeping Thyme Groundcover
No obstacles in lawn = easy maintenance

75. Typical Backyard

76. Side Yard Lawn Removed
Lawn removed
around existing
evergreen.

77. Localscaped Backyard
Swing set
Relocated
outside of lawn
Lawn reconfigured
Lawn removed under
existing tree
Patio enlarged

78. Localscaped Backyard
3. Activity
Zone
2. Gathering Space
1. Central Open Shape
4. Path
5. Plantings

79. Localscaped Backyard Example

80. Where to Begin?
The average GRASS parkstrip requires 10,000 + gallons of water per season.

81. Localscape Management
How to KEEP Your Localscape Low-Maintenance

82. What About Weeds?
Plants (including weeds)
need:
1. Soil
2. Nutrients
3. Air
4. Sunlight
5. Water
If the 5 conditions are provided, weeds grow anywhere!

83. To Control Weeds,
Control Water
• ONLY use drip irrigation to water
planting beds. Apply water just to
the plants you wish to keep.
• Prevent overspray in beds from lawn
sprinklers.
• Localscapes are designed to make it
easier to apply water just where you
want it– the major reason why lawn
is a central open shape.

84. Much Ado About Mulching
• 3-4” coat of mulch keeps sunlight from
reaching weed seed.
• Weed barrier fabric is only
recommended under inorganic mulch.
It degrades over time, decreases soil
quality and becomes a weed itself.
• If high winds are an issue, use rock
mulch.
• Fine mulches, thickly applied, prevent
more sunlight from reaching the soil
than larger mulches.

88. Sugarhouse, Utah
EXAMPLE HOMES

89. Sugarhouse, Utah

90. Sandy, Utah

91. Midvale, Utah

92. Salt Lake City, Utah

93. West Valley, Utah

94. Holladay, Utah
Creeping Thyme Lawn

95. Herriman, Utah

96. Taylorsville, Utah