By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Now that the growing season is here, the city of Hays is again offering a turf conversion rebate for property owners wanting to convert cool season grasses to warm season grasses or water conserving landscaping.

The program is directed towards properties with irrigated and well-maintained cool season turf grass such as Tall Fescue and Kentucky blue grass, according to the city’s water conservation specialist Holly Dickman.

“These grasses thrive when the weather is cooler in the spring and fall, but typically require supplemental irrigation during the hot summer months to keep them looking nice,” Dickman explained.

“Warm season grasses like Buffalo and Bermudagrass thrive during the heat of the summer and therefore require very little, if any supplemental irrigation once established. The same is true with drought tolerant landscaping plants.”

Native species like Buffalograss have a deep root system that allows the turf to withstand extended periods of drought.

The rebate for turf conversion is $1 per square foot with a maximum of $1,500 per property.

Pre- and post-inspections are required.

“You need to call my office and we’ll set up a time when I’ll come out and actually look at your landscape and see if you qualify for the rebate program. We’ll take some measurements and have you fill out some paperwork. That part is required before any work is done, so you can’t already have taken out that turf grass and then call me.

After pre-inspection, the applicant has up to one year to do the turf conversion.

“After the conversion is complete, you call me back. I’ll come do a post-inspection and then we issue the rebate after that.”

More information about the turf conversion rebate program is available at www.watersmarthays.com or calling Dickman at 785-628-7350.