To get grass or not????????????? (Goodyear: how much, house, subdivision)

[military spouse]

We moved into our house in Goodyear (Palm Valley) about 3 weeks ago and we need to landscape our backyard. I don't know the actual dimensions, but the lot is a bit over 12,000 sq. ft, with most of that area in the back (minus the house which is 2766 sq. ft.). We are thinking of a patch of grass in the middle with the rest hardscapes and xeriscaped. Any ideas on how much we might spend on watering/maintaining that grass? Thanks!!!!!!!!!

[wit-nit]

Check with your local water company. They should give you aprroximations if you give them the size of the patch of grass.
They can also give you the average water costs for your house usage as well as yard requirements in your subdivision.
Remember grass is not a natural element in this area and uses a lot of water to be maintained properly in the warm and hot months. In the winter it goes dormant, and if you don't overseed with temporary winter rye grass, it goes brown on you.
If you're in an HOA, many HOA's do not allow grass. Some do allow for small patches in the rear yard.

[AZ91]

Get the fake grass. You'll never know the difference.

[HX_Guy]

Yea right, you'll never know the difference? What about the fact that it looks fake...even the real good stuff, while it looks good, you can still tell it's not real. Also, the biggest problem is that it heats up like concrete. It's nothing like real grass.

[aj661]

I have a bermuda hybrid in the back yard. The watering is on a timer which comes on at 3:00am for eight minutes, four times a week during the summer. About once a month I backwash the pool and spray the water over the grass. The grass looks great and it's much cooler than rock or a plastic shag carpet over dirt. If you want grass, plant it.

[GirlinAZ]

Originally Posted by military spouse

We moved into our house in Goodyear (Palm Valley) about 3 weeks ago and we need to landscape our backyard. I don't know the actual dimensions, but the lot is a bit over 12,000 sq. ft, with most of that area in the back (minus the house which is 2766 sq. ft.). We are thinking of a patch of grass in the middle with the rest hardscapes and xeriscaped. Any ideas on how much we might spend on watering/maintaining that grass? Thanks!!!!!!!!!

We live in the desert. We are also in a many year draught. Please do not get grass. Thank you and all future generations thank you. We do not want to end up like Atlanta, now do we?

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by military spouse

We moved into our house in Goodyear (Palm Valley) about 3 weeks ago and we need to landscape our backyard. I don't know the actual dimensions, but the lot is a bit over 12,000 sq. ft, with most of that area in the back (minus the house which is 2766 sq. ft.). We are thinking of a patch of grass in the middle with the rest hardscapes and xeriscaped. Any ideas on how much we might spend on watering/maintaining that grass? Thanks!!!!!!!!!

Grass will be much cooler and the rock feel like burning embers much of the year. Grass does not take a whole lot of water to keep it looking nice, especially if you do what another person suggested and that is to water it in the wee hours of the morning. An automatic sprinkler system will be a healthy investment into your home and will save you much headache. It is worth every penny, not to mention the grass will be a comfort.
As far as a draught goes, if everyone were as "worried" about the draught as they say they are, then we would have a cap on the amount of building being done.
Rock will suck, the grass is the only thing that will make you enjoy living here.

[military spouse]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Does watering the grass raise your water bill substantially?

[wit-nit]

Yes!Yes!Yes!

[military spouse]

Originally Posted by nitram

Yes!Yes!Yes!

I tried to call the water co. and they were less than helpful. Do you think we're talking an extra $20 per month or an extra $200 per month. We haven't been here long enough to even have our firsst water bill.