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UHV finds new way to conserver water through xeriscaping

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  • Rubi Reyes •
  • Originally published July 25, 2009 at 7:56 a.m., updated July 25, 2009 at 7:56 a.m.

Justin Kutzer walked around the xeriscaping project he began on Tuesday and decided he needed more rocks.

Kutzer is the grounds supervisor at University of Houston-Victoria and the designer of the xeriscaping project.

In its efforts to continue to help the environment, UHV is replacing some of the grass in front of the University Center with xeriscape, landscaping that conserves water and reduces maintenance.

"The president approached me with the idea about xeriscape, we decided on an area and I took it from there," Kutzer said.

In 2007, UHV President Tim Hudson was the first president of a Texas public university to sign the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.

This is an effort involving more than 600 universities that addresses global warming and accelerates the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the Earth's climate.

"This is a good way to conserve water usage and this is a good size area," Kutzer said.

Xeriscape began to gain popularity about 10 years ago, he said, but this type of landscaping has really come into play in the past three to four years.

The key to conserving water is to use plants that don't need much water, Kutzer said.

"We're using Texas native plants that can adapt to the region and the climate," he said.

The xeriscape is 48-by-56-foot area around the "Millennium Plaza," outdoor art on the east side of the University Center, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St.

Kutzer and his crew replaced the grass that surrounds the art with large boulders, mulch, moss rock, small landscaping stones known as cobble, and Texas sage, pendula and red yucca, dwarf bottle brush, vitex and dwarf yaupon.

"This project will add visual appeal to the front of the building," Kutzer said. "Once we get the landscaping established, we'll be watering the plants about once a month."

The xeriscape will allow UHV to conserve about half the amount of water they are currently using.

"UHV is committed to being a good steward of the environment, and this new xeriscape landscaping is just our next step in showing the community that we are serious about reducing our impact on the climate," Hudson said.


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