Texas SmartScape™ is a landscape program that promotes the use of plants suited to the North Central Texas soil, climate, and precipitation. The program was developed in 2001 with support from the North Central Texas Council of Governments, its member governments (including several of the region’s water providers), Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and Weston Gardens. It is currently supported by the North Central Texas Council of Government’s Regional Stormwater Management Program. The regional goals are to improve water quality by reducing runoff, and to conserve local water supplies by selecting ecologically appropriate native or adapted plants that require less water, pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides.

Stormwater and irrigation runoff can carry chemicals from commercial properties and residential yards into our local creeks, streams, ponds, lakes and rivers. These pollutants can have a negative effect on our local waterways and increase drinking water costs. By using Texas Smartscape™ plants to invest in a more resilient and wildlife friendly landscape, we can preserve the quality of our local ecosystems and secure our future water supplies.

Use Native and Adapted Plants

Texas Smartscape™ plants thrive in the wide range of temperature and moisture conditions found in North Central Texas. Approved plants minimize the use of fertilizers and pesticides which improves our local water quality and is beneficial to our native wildlife.

• These plants are resistant to major pest problems which reduces pesticide use
• They can maintain healthy growth in our region’s soils without using fertilizer.
• Once native and adapted plants are established, they will require less water.

Reduce Turf Grass

Typical lawns require large amounts of supplemental watering and more intensive maintenance. Create landscaped areas by using the Smartscape Design page or utilize the Smartscape Plant Finder tool to search by 13 different parameters, including plant type, plant shape and size, light requirement, ornamental color, wildlife value, bloom season, landscape use, and more. These landscaped areas will make your yard more attractive and will provide important habitat for native wildlife such as bees and butterflies while conserving water resources.

Use Organic Mulch and Compost

Mulch and Compost help reduce water loss in the soil. Mulch also represses weeds, moderates soil temperature and prevents soil erosion while compost provides valuable nutrients to your plants.

Water Efficiently and Effectively

Up to 50% of irrigation goes to waste due to evaporation, wind, improper system design, leaks or overwatering.

• Avoid water loss due to evaporation by watering early or late in the day. (Between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m.)
• Use the “Cycle and Soak” method of watering deeply and infrequently.
• When using an irrigation system, consider using a smart irrigation control system or manually set the controller on an as-needed basis.
• Install drip irrigation in flower beds and at the roots of shrubs. 95% of drip irrigation water reaches the plant whereas traditional methods are much less efficient.

For information on Stormwater Pollution and Prevention visit www.arlingtontx.gov/stormwater and find great landscaping ideas, resources and tools at www.txsmartscape.com.