Submitted
The Hays Beautification Committee in conjunction with the City of Hays is sponsoring a Water $mart Landscape Award program for 2016 with categories for both Residential and Commercial landscapes.
A Water $mart Landscape is a sustainable and drought-tolerant landscape with low-water use plants and turf to maximize water efficiency.
The goal of the award program is to increase awareness of water conservation in the Hays community by promoting creative low-water (Water $mart) Landscaping.
The Water $mart Landscape Award may be presented to a residential and a commercial Hays water customer with a Water $mart Landscape that exemplifies superior design and follows the seven principles of water smart landscape:
- Planning and design
- Low-water use plants
- Practical turf areas
- Efficient irrigation
- Soil amendment
- Mulches
- Maintenance
1. Planning and design includes proper plant groupings and size. Slopes, exposure, soil amendments and water needs must also be taken into consideration.
2. Low-water use plants: Plants materials used should be the correct type for the Hays area.
3. Practical turf areas: Turf areas are to be properly laid out with warm season grasses being used in lieu of fescue/bluegrass.
4. Efficient irrigation: Does the landscape use driplines, high efficiency nozzles or subterranean irrigation.
5. Soil amendment: Soil was amended or tested in the proper manner to provide healthy establishment and healthy growth of drought-tolerant landscape and turf.
6. Mulches: Does the landscape plan have proper use of wood mulches and proper use of rock and gravel outside the planting zones.
7. Maintenance: Was the Water $mart Landscape properly maintained during establishment. At appropriate times, pruning, mowing, fertilizing, watering and insect/disease were completed to maintain a healthy Water $mart Landscape.
Requirements for nomination include that the nominee landscape area is within the city limits of Hays, the selected Water $mart Landscape must be visible to the public, and the Water $mart Landscape must have been installed at least one year prior to the nomination to demonstrate healthy establishment and proper care.
All are encouraged to submit nominations by June 1 to the Hays Parks Department or contact them at (785) 628-7375.
Nominations will be judged by the Hays Beautification Committee. Finalists will be contacted to schedule an on-site visit.
One winner will be chosen from each category, commercial and residential. Winners will be notified by June 30 and will receive an award and a certificate identifying them as a Water $mart Landscape winner. The winners will be presented their award during a regular scheduled Hays city commission meeting in July.