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My husband and I currently live in Colorado Springs and really love it, BUT we can't afford to live in the "greener" side of town near the mountains. We are moving to El Paso, TX because of his job. We are going to move shortly after because El Paso just isn't for us. We are looking for somewhere in Texas, NM, or Arizona that actually has green and trees. We are from MD and are used to grass and trees EVERYWHERE. We know we won't really find that down there, but we are hoping to live somewhere that we can have nice grass in our yard without watering a bunch of times a day (like we currently do in COS). We also need to live at least within driving distance of a big city so that we can find jobs and live comfortably. We don't mind the heat, but we would prefer somewhere that does get cold or at least "chilly". We have two young kids and would like to live somewhere with good schools. Any recommendations?
You have to water lawns in the southwest. Period. Not necessarily "a bunch of times a day," though. Do you have Kentucky Bluegrass or what?!!? Some kinds of grass are more tolerant of the drier climates.
If that is unacceptable, stop fighting nature and consider living in areas with climates that are easier on greenery. There are zones along rivers in the SW that have greenery, but overall it is a dry region.
My husband and I currently live in Colorado Springs and really love it, BUT we can't afford to live in the "greener" side of town near the mountains. We are moving to El Paso, TX because of his job. We are going to move shortly after because El Paso just isn't for us. We are looking for somewhere in Texas, NM, or Arizona that actually has green and trees. We are from MD and are used to grass and trees EVERYWHERE. We know we won't really find that down there, but we are hoping to live somewhere that we can have nice grass in our yard without watering a bunch of times a day (like we currently do in COS). We also need to live at least within driving distance of a big city so that we can find jobs and live comfortably. We don't mind the heat, but we would prefer somewhere that does get cold or at least "chilly". We have two young kids and would like to live somewhere with good schools. Any recommendations?
For Texas, anywhere along/east of I-35 would do. East of longitude 96 has the best results, and it covers the Piney Woods region of the state, extending down the Gulf Coast to include the Houston Metro and the Golden Triangle.
For New Mexico and Arizona, anywhere of sufficiently high elevation should be suitable. Mountainous areas feature orographic effects that enhance precipitation.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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If you are looking for a nice spread of green grass in the desert (Bermuda grass is what they plant in AZ), then Scottsdale would be your best bet. There's no shortage of desert landscaping there either, but they have a higher concentration of homes with lawns (and golf courses), more than anywhere else I've seen in the Southwest.
Some of the mid-century neighborhoods in East and Central Phoenix have a good amount of green lawns. Certain developments around Chandler and Arrowhead Ranch have them as well. Not surprisingly these are the priciest parts of the Valley. So overall around the Valley of the Sun the odds are higher as they irragate more than other Southwestern cities do. There's no getting around the heavy watering part, it is what it is. Anywhere else you'll have to climb to higher elevations to the sky island greenery.
You won't find a lot of grass in El Paso, Tucson, or Albuquerque though there are some exceptions. Tucson has more resort/golf course greenery, and Albuquerque actually has pretty nice tree cover. El Paso definitely has a more open and exposed desert feeling. The Rio Grande has a natural green ribbon through Albuquerque with a preserved bosque, El Paso being the border city that it is has a wall and concrete ditch on the Rio. Albuquerque does have a nice oasis feeling in certain parts of it.
Last edited by Champ le monstre du lac; 08-14-2017 at 06:47 AM..
The place pictured is just N of the Texas Tech campus, so it's not one of the areas that's considered to be well-off (like parts S or W of it). It's also not the closed mini-golf course you mentioned that's currently being redeveloped into a modern outdoor family entertainment center w/ zip lines and other things.
But, by all means, carry on with your always-helpful snark.
Last edited by JMT; 08-14-2018 at 05:30 PM..
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