Taylor Morrison Features Drought-Tolerant Landscaping in Sweetwater

Feb. 20, 2013 - PRLog -- With the Austin area and all of Texas in the grip of an unrelenting drought of historic proportions, Taylor Morrison is taking steps to promote what many experts say is the most feasible and economical solution to our water woes: conservation.

         Taylor Morrison has made water-saving landscaping a standard feature for its homes built in the master-planned community of Sweetwater. Instead of planting traditional grass lawns and filling landscape beds with thirsty flora, the company uses an assortment of natural materials and native foliage to create beautiful yards that require far less water and less maintenance. Sweetwater yards contain no more than 50% grass; the rest is composed of mulched beds of colorful native plants, such as Big Red Sage, Yaupon Holly, Red Yucca, Texas Sotol, and an assortment of lantanas. Half of the landscaped beds in the front yards contain crushed granite and the others are mulched.

As a result of this change, homeowners can expect to save money on their monthly water bills. Another side benefit of the program is the propensity of native plants to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Plans for the new Sweetwater Club include a butterfly garden with walking paths and shade trees.

“Taylor Morrison has always been committed to being a responsible environmental steward,” said Michael Lindeman, Sales and Marketing Vice President. “Water conservation is such a key issue in Texas and one that truly impacts the entire community. By making a few strategic changes to our landscaping plans, we can help our homebuyers save water, save money, and save time and effort. The best part is, they still end up with a great-looking yard with lots of colorful plants and flowers. Definitely a win-win for everyone involved.”

According to climate scientists, central Texas has been in a state of severe drought for two years, with this past November being the driest month on record since 1897. Water levels in Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan are down by 42%, and the city of Austin has been on Stage 2 watering restrictions since early September.  The extended drought has had a significant impact across the state, including starving cattle, raging wildfires and agriculture losses that some experts estimate to be as high as $7 billion. Twenty-three public water systems in the state report having less than a six-month supply of water, and the nearby town of Spicewood Beach actually ran out of water completely and had to haul it in by truck. Officials are concerned that continued drought may negatively impact the state’s power supply as electrical plants require a steady stream of water to operate.

         Conservation programs, such as Taylor Morrison’s landscaping at Sweetwater, are vital to help ease demands on our water supply. The average suburban household uses 10,000 gallons of supplemental water per year for lawn maintenance, which represents as much as half of the household’s total water usage. By planting xeriscape (low water) landscaping and reducing the footprint of grass lawns, residents can do their part to help conserve water. Other recommendations from experts include timing sprinkler use to minimize evaporation, collecting water from downspouts to water plants and gardens, using a soaker hose or hand-held sprayer, and spreading organic compost and mulch to guard against moisture loss.

For more information about Sweetwater and its drought relief landscaping, visit the Taylor Morrison sales center in Sweetwater at 5704 Tonkowa Draw Road or call 512-362-6240.

About Taylor Morrison

Taylor Morrison is the largest North American privately-owned homebuilder based in the United States, as reported by Hanley Wood based on 2011 revenues. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Taylor Morrison is a builder and developer of single-family detached and attached homes. Under the Taylor Morrison brand, the Company operates in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida and Texas. Under the Monarch brand, the Company operates in Ontario, Canada where the Company builds and develops single-family detached and attached homes in both Toronto and Ottawa. Monarch also builds high-rise condominiums in Toronto. Taylor Morrison serves a wide array of homebuyers, including entry-level, move-up, luxury and active adult customers, through its innovative product mix.

For more information about Taylor Morrison or Monarch, please visit www.taylormorrison.com and www.monarchgroup.net.

For more information about Taylor Morrison communities in Austin, call 512-845-7350 or visit www.taylormorrison.com.