Grow Rain in Utah: Plant Grass, Ditch Xeriscaping!

Grow Rain in Utah: Plant Grass, Ditch Xeriscaping!

Hey Utahns, want to bring more rain to our dry desert home? It’s simpler than you think—plant more grass and plants, cover every patch of bare ground, and swap out xeriscaping for Flowscaping! Our state, with just 13 inches of rain a year, needs your help to keep water flowing and skies showering. Let’s dive into why grass is our rain-making superhero and how you can join the movement to grow Utah’s future. Grow Rain in Utah: Plant Grass, Ditch Xeriscaping!

Grow Rain in Utah: Plant Grass, Ditch Xeriscaping!

Why Grass Makes Rain

In Utah, 40% of our rain comes from plants like grass, not the ocean, unlike wet states like California or Florida. Grass acts like a water pump, pulling moisture from the soil and sending it back to the air in just 24-48 hours. This process, called evapotranspiration (ET), releases 3-5 mm of water daily—way more than native plants (1-2 mm) or bare dirt (almost none). For every 600,000 acres of grass, we could add 324,000-540,000 acre-feet of water vapor to the sky, fueling 7-25% more rain (that’s 1-3 extra inches a year by 2075!).

Grass doesn’t just pump water—it cools the air by 3-15°F, helping clouds form and condensation to take place, right here in Utah, not blowing away to Colorado. Bare ground or gravel? They heat up 5-10°F hotter, pushing moisture away. By planting grass, you’re literally growing rain for our farms, cities, and streams.

The Problem with Xeriscaping

Since 1981, xeriscaping—replacing grass with gravel or sparse natives—has saved water short-term but hurt our rainfall. It’s cut Utah’s rain by 1-3% a year, costing us 5-17 inches over 44 years. Why? Gravel and natives cycle water slowly (7-30 days or none), reducing the moisture that feeds our clouds. Plus, they make our cities hotter, drying out our air. Xeriscaping’s low-water plants can’t match grass’s power to cool and hydrate Utah.

Flowscaping: The Rain-Making Solution

Entroducing Flowscaping, the heart of Utah’s push to grow rain! It’s about covering bare ground with grass and plants to speed up the water cycle. Grass recycles water fast, keeps soil healthy, and cuts runoff (20-30% less than gravel), so more water stays local. Even in drought, grass sips just 0.2-0.5 inches a month, saving 50-75% water while staying ready to pump again. Unlike slow sinks like aquifers (50-1,000 years) or the Great Salt Lake (5-10 years) with long residence times, grass keeps water rotating, recycling and raining.

Why Utah Needs This

Our dry state depends on every drop. Unlike Florida’s 50 inches of rain or California’s coastal storms, Utah’s 13 inches mean small boosts (1-3 inches) make a huge difference—10-20% more water for crops, homes, and wildlife. Grass is our secret weapon to fight drought, (every blade matters) cool cities, and bring back the rain we’ve lost to xeriscaping and developement.

How You Can Help

Ready to be a rainmaker? Here’s how:

• Plant Grass: Cover your yard, garden, or any bare spot with grass like Kentucky bluegrass. Every blade pumps water and cools the air.

• Ditch Xeriscaping: Swap gravel and sparse natives for lush Flowscaping. Turn hot, dry patches into green, rain-making zones.

• Cover Bare Ground: No dirt left behind! Plant grass, clover, or native flowers to keep moisture cycling.

• Spread the Word: Tell neighbors, join community gardens, or support Utah’s upcoming Flowscaping laws to green our state. Help reduce farmland, and Green space loss.

Let’s Grow Utah’s Rain Together!

Every lawn you plant is a step toward a wetter, greener Utah. Grass isn’t just pretty—it’s a rain-making, drought-fighting powerhouse. By Flowscaping our yards and covering bare ground, we can undo xeriscaping’s damage and bring back 1-3 inches of rain a year. That’s more water for our farms, lakes, and future. Utahns, let’s grab our shovels, plant some grass, and make it rain! 🌱💧

Join the Flowscaping movement and support Utah’s upcoming bills to grow rainflow!