• The inaugural EcoScape contest is open to residents of Fort Worth and almost 30 surrounding communities. Deadline to enter is Aug. 16.

By Julie Thibodeaux

This summer, when many residents are doubling up on their lawn watering, the city of Fort Worth joins Dallas by launching a landscaping competition aimed at promoting water conservation. Fort Worth’s inaugural EcoScape contest will award three winning yards based on good design, maintenance and water conserving features. 

“We want to help people save water right now,” said Hilda Zuniga, public education specialist for the city of Fort Worth. “We want to show residents that there’s more to xeriscaping than just cactuses.” 

                                                    (All photos: Yards on the 2013 Dallas Water-Wise Landscaping Tour. Courtesy of the city of Dallas)

They patterned the competition after Dallas’ Water-Wise Landscaping Contest, which will be celebrating its 20th year next spring. However while Dallas hosts its competition in April, Fort Worth will be judging yards in late August, putting gardeners' skills to the ultimate test.

“We’re going to be looking at these yards during the toughest months of the summer,” said Zuniga.

According to Zuniga, more than half of the water used by residents goes to outdoor watering during the sweltering days of summer. They hope the contest, a partnership with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, will encourage the public cut back on watering by switching to native plants, using mulch and reducing turf.

Carole Davis, manager of the water conservation division for the city of Dallas, said a change of mindset is needed by residents and homeowners associations in order to meet municipal water needs in the coming years.

“The population of DFW is predicated to double in the next 50 years,” said Davis. “Promoting water-wise landscaping is one of the tools we have for reducing overall water consumption.”

The EcoScape contest is open to residents of Fort Worth and almost 30 surrounding communities. Entries must be front yards measuring at least 1,000 square feet.

Deadline to enter is Aug. 16. Public tours of the landscapes will be held Sept. 14.

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Julie Thibodeaux covers environmental issues, green topics and sustainable living for Green Source DFW. Previously, she worked as an editor and writer at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Send your green bulletin items to Julie@greensourcedfw.org. Follow us on Facebook and Pinterest.