Water Conservation

Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) works every day to protect our limited water resources so we’ll have enough in decades to come.

North Texas communities use a large portion of all water outdoors—to keep our landscapes healthy and vibrant. This is why we ask our neighbors to help us conserve outdoors in particular. We believe that it is up to every North Texan to conserve our precious water resources for future generations.

We have found that selecting water-wise landscape design, plants and materials can make a big difference on the amount of water your landscape requires. As a demonstration project for our customers, UTRWD maintains a Water Conservation Garden at our administrative headquarters.

Our garden showcases the beauty and practicality of a landscape that uses earth-friendly, water-saving techniques. The garden is currently home to more than 100 varieties of plants native or well adapted to our Texas environment. These plants use less water, need less fertilizer and don’t require harmful chemicals for protection. The result is a landscape in harmony with our North Texas environment—one that can thrive in drought conditions, attracting birds, butterflies and other wildlife while using less water and harmful chemicals.

Our Water Conservation Garden is open to use by UTRWD members and customers, garden clubs, developers and other civic groups interested in learning more about water conservation practices in home and business landscapes. For more garden information or to schedule a tour, please call us at 972-219-1228.

How to Craft a Native, Water-Saving Landscape

Check out our suggestions below for some native and adapted plants for different landscape types that all jive well with our North Texas environment. Our Conservation Garden showcases several of these specific landscape styles, and the plants it incorporates from the following list are emphasized in bold below. Other plant equally good options for each style are included as well.

Plant & Material Suggestions: English-Style Garden

Upper Trinity Regional Water District has developed landscape demonstration in different styles to illustrate the beauty and utility of using native and adapted plants. Plants actually used in the specific garden are noted in bold. Optional plants of equal merit are also included below.

Trees:

Japanese Black Pines, Post Oak, Burr Oak. Other Options: Eldarica Pine, Austrian Pine, Live Oak, Red Oak, Cedar Elm, Redbud, Eve’s Necklace, Ginkgo, Chinese Pistachio, Crepe Myrtle, Savannah Holly, Little Gem Magnolia, Ornamental Pear.

Small Trees:

Weeping Yaupon Holly. Other Options: Nellie R. Stevens Holly, Foster Holly, Wax Myrtle, Yaupon Holly, Bird of Paradise, Carolina Buckthorn, Pomegranate.

Shrubs:

Knockout Rose (Red), Nandina “Gulf-Stream”, Indian Hawthorn “Ballerina”, Dwarf Burford Holly, Bridal Wreath, Juniper, Creeping Juniper. Other Options: Nearly Wild Rose, Rosemary, Greggs Salvia, Dwarf Crepe Myrtle, Althea, Chinese Photinia, Cleyera, Compact Nandina, Dwarf Burning Bush, Dwarf Glossy Abelia, Dwarf Pomegranate, Dwarf Spirea, Dwarf Wax Myrtle, Harbor Dwarf Nadina, Standard Nandina.

Perennials:

Verbena, Dianthus, Daylily, Beared Iris, Liriope “Majestic”. Other Options: Alyssum, Candytuft, Columbine, Purple Coneflower, Coreopsis, Daffodil, Gloriosa Daisy, Gazania, Lantana, Plumbago, Mealy Blue Salvia, Thrift, Yarrow, Holly Fern, Japanese Painted Fern.

Hardscape:

Boulders.

Plant & Material Suggestions: Japanese-Style Garden

Trees:

Crape Myrtle, Savannah Holly, Redbud, Black Pine, Eldarica Pine, Austrian Pine, Red Oak, Bur Oak, Chinese Pistachio, Cedar Elm, Eve’s Necklace, Ginkgo, American Persimmon.

Small Trees:

Weeping Yaupon Holly, Japanese Maple “Dissectum,” Wax Myrtle, Japanese Persimmon (Fuyu), Texas Persimmon, Nellie R. Stevens Holly, Foster Holly.

Shrubs:

Knockout Rose (red), Nadina “Gulf-Stream,” Indian Hawthorn “Ballerina,” Plum Delight, Carissa Holly, Dwarf Burford Holly, Creeping Juniper. Other Options: Nearly Wild Rose, Juniper, Rosemary, Greggs Salvia, Dwarf Crape Myrtle, Althea, Bird of Paradise, Carolina Buckthorn, Dwarf Wax Myrtle.

Perennials:

Daylily, Liriope “Majestic,” African Iris, Dwarf Mondo Grass. Other Options: Alyssum, Candytuft, Columbine, Purple Coneflower, Coreopsis, Daffodil, Gloriosa Daisy, Gazania, Lantana, Plumbago, Mealy Blue Salvia, Thrift.

Hardscape:

Boulders, Flag Stones, River Rocks, Fountain.

Plant & Material Suggestions: Hill Country-Style Garden

Trees:

Desert Willow, Texas Mesquite, Mexican Plum. Other Options: Live Oak, Pecan, Cedar Elm, Eve’s Necklace, Ginkgo Tree, Eastern Red Cedar, Texas Ash, Mexican Buckeye, Western Soapberry, Redbud, Texas Persimmon, Lacebark Elm, Washington Hawthorn, Black Locust.

Small Trees:

Vitex, Vibernum “Rusty Blackhaw.” Other Options: Possomhaw Holly, Yaupon Holly, Smoke Tree, Bird of Paradise, Carolina Buckthorn, Butterfly Bush.

Shrubs:

Texas Sage “Desperado,” Knockout Rose, Red Yucca, Nearly Wild Rose. Other Options: Dwarf Yaupon Holly, Red Barberry, Coralberry, Gray Cotoneaster, Rock Cotoneaster, Dwarf Crape Mrytle, American Beautyberry, Evergreen Sumac, Aromatic Sumac, Elaeagnus.

Perennials:

Verbena, Blue Fescue, Lantana, Spanish Lavender, Russian Sage “Petovskia,” Purple Coneflower, Daylily, Mealy Blue Salvia, Iris, Liatris. Other Options: Columbine, Coreopsis, Gloriosa Daisy, Dusty Miller, Gazania, Plumbago, Texas Rock Rose, Rosemary, Thrift, Gray Santolina, Candytuft.