Spruce up landscape, water conservation with plants

Rising water prices, drought and a growing roster of U.S. cities issuing use restrictions has put a new focus on landscaping, with more hoteliers evaluating ways to keep properties looking sharp for guests while protecting their investments.

Some forward-thinking properties, such as Loews Lake Las Vegas, are taking steps to show that environmental responsibility and lush beauty aren’t mutually exclusive.

Situated in Henderson, Nev., an arid, hot region prone to drought, Loews Lake Las Vegas is an extravagant Moroccan-themed hotel and resort surrounded by 10 acres of landscaped grounds. To be able to cultivate a beautiful landscape despite such elements is indeed a challenging task, and Loews recently embarked on a new sustainability program to ease the burden while maintaining the property’s world-class beauty.

Following the professional guidance of ValleyCrest Landscape Companies, the property began adding drought-tolerant succulents and converting areas throughout the resort from high to low water-use plants. Low water-use plants not only save on consumption, but also help the landscape maintain an attractive aesthetic appeal while balancing with its native climate.

The next step was installing an irrigation controller system that could be adjusted for extreme desert weather conditions. In addition to this, the hotel installed artificial turf in some of the more highly trafficked areas of the property, such as the barbecue pavilion and the day care center. This approach saves water and precludes a need to replace turfgrass as much as six times a year due to the wear and tear of hotel guests and staff.  In fact, for each square foot of natural turf converted to more environmentally friendly options, Loews saves 55 gallons of water per year. The savings add up. By paying closer attention to some of these simple, yet easily identifiable solutions, hotels can achieve positive bottom-line results:

• Switch from overhead irrigation to a more efficient drip system.
• Convert traditional irrigation controllers to smart weather-based controllers that measure precipitation, solar radiation and wind, and adjust systems automatically as needed.
• Maintain landscapes that are in harmony with the environment by reducing green waste, nurturing healthy soils, creating wildlife habitats and reducing storm water runoff.
• Analyze water usage trends and develop a water management plan to ensure irrigation systems operate efficiently, irrigation runoff is reduced and reclaimed water is used.
• Practice hydro-zoning, or grouping plants with similar water requirements on the same irrigation valve to reduce overwatering.
• Install flowering perennial plants to provide a sustainable and cost-effective replacement for seasonal color changes.
• Implement a rotation schedule for water features so fewer operate at one time, reducing energy costs.
• Retrofit the landscape with sustainable, water-efficient landscapes and native, drought-tolerant plant materials to reduce the use of natural resources and decrease the amount of maintenance required.
• Optimize the placement and health of trees around your buildings to increase shade and reduce energy costs.
• Maintain the landscape in a natural fashion by using pruning techniques that highlight the individuality of each plant.
• Explore public programs offered by water districts, cities or other entities that provide rebates or credits for upgrades to smart controllers, efficient irrigation, overhead spray to drip conversions and rain/wind shut-off sensors.

hwn@questex.com | Kevin Mefford is the branch manager of ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance in Las Vegas. Contact him at kmefford@valleycrest.com and (702) 736-3551.