Lush Lawns and Green Trees (Albuquerque, Rio Rancho: crime, houses, college)

[roger_paul]

Hi. In my online search for homes, I'm finding a lot of houses with lush green lawns and trees. How feasible is it to keep up maintenance of grass in ABQ/Rio Rancho? Some houses are even listed as having built-in sprinkler systems.

Is this even recommended in this area? What are your feelings about houses with grass and trees? Does anyone grow other types of plants/veggies in their garden?

[Zoidberg]

Pre-1980 homes tend to have grass. Post-1980 homes tend not to.

We know ABQ metro is running out of water. We don't know how bad or how fast. Grass is not natural and won't survive here without watering in most cases.

I like the look of grass in my yard. I don't like the water bills. Kids don't like to play as much on a pile of gravel and cactus as on grass.

You can grow quite a few different plants here, but we do get winter freezes.

[nmguy]

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Albuquerque use xeroscape as the locals so.

[parteira]

Originally Posted by roger_paul

What are your feelings about houses with grass and trees? Does anyone grow other types of plants/veggies in their garden?

I find it disturbing. This is a desert! I think it is shameless the way so many here have so little respect for the area's environment and climate. In the summer I constantly see my neighbors watering their grass, along with the sidewalk and half the street, at midday. I really wish people wouldn't move here and attempt to recreate the same gardens they had on the east coast, or in california. The desert has its own profound beauty.

Having said that, there are ways to use gray water and to harvest rain water for grow container gardens, veggie gardens, etc. I don't think you'd be able to rely only on rainwater, but you could significantly reduce your water use during a good monsoon season.

[Vpuccetti]

I hate seeing people waste water to have a greener front yard. We are a desert and need to be more like it. They actually fine people quite often for watering during the day and overwatering.

o to answer your question, it is VERY difficult and consumes a lot of water and time for a semi-green lawn.

[roger_paul]

Thanks all for the advice. It didn't really make sense to me when I saw pictures of houses with green lawns. I always thought the greener side of new mexico were mostly the pristine chile fields, which I love by the way, and the Lincoln National Forest which is amazing.

If I do move out to the area, I would definitely look into xeriscaping. zeroscaping as someone mentioned to me awhile back seems to actually be detrimental to the soil as it keeps the ground hotter and depletes moisture. So, xeriscaping seems the way to go.

There's a house that interest me in RR and it's got a backyard full of grass and fruit trees, that's one of the reasons I asked about grass in ABQ/RR. I guess it will take a lot of work to convert that backyard to xeriscape.

[roger_paul]

Originally Posted by abqsunport

I would say UNM is a pretty safe campus to live on. There are occasionally drunken fights, but you will find that at almost any state college in the country.

as long as they stay off the green grass. lol. j.k. silly attempt at keeping the grass thread alive.

[domino]

Lush lawns and green trees can be found near UNM. I don't really think it contributes to the crime rate, though.
This is my feeble attempt to get this thread back on topic.

[abqsunport]

Yes, Johnson's Field has a huge swarm of green grass.

[norm]

What is the long range situation for water in Albuquerque? Are there permanent water restrictions in place?