SAN ANTONIO- We've had a little rain...but it's really not enough. And the ongoing drought has made many of us rethink how we keep our yards alive. Before long we'll be deciding what to do with our yards as it gets warmer and greens up.
You've probably heard of xerascaping , but there is a new option called wildscaping that can actually leave your yard a new kind of green. When you first look at a wildscaped yard like this one at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens, you probably notice the lack of grass. But don't let that scare you off. If you're like most homeowners you may want to keep at least some grass. But the more grass of any kind, the more water you'll need. The emphasis here is drought tolerant plants that promote wildlife.
Karen Guz with San Antonio Water System says there are three basics to turning your yard into a wildlife playground. First you need a supply of food.
Guz says, "that's going to be nectar from flowers or berries. They'll also need shelter, so you'll need layers of plants, places for small birds to hide, squirrels and things. And also a water supply."
Most of us can't make a total transformation all at once, but doing it as you have time and money will take some extra patience. Start with a small section, picking plants that have something to offer. Like cedar sage with a small tube type flower.
Guz told us, "Now if that is there, you're going to have something coming to drink the nectar out of that...like a hummingbird or something that's going to come through."
Now is the perfect time to plant something new. It's cooler which is easier on young plants. Other non-plant items that are wildlife magnets are things like a small bird bath that supplies the water need and even this fallen log that birds will love to search for bugs to eat.
