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Emulating nature key to landscaping during drought conditions

As of Tuesday, 70 percent of Nebraska remained in moderate to extreme drought conditions.

That’s according to the U.S. Drought Monitor report. Much of eastern Nebraska remains in moderate drought conditions. Steve Rodie, landscape horticulture specialist and assistant professor at UNL, says the persistent drought conditions have damaged landscapes.

Rodie says those plants should be replaced with drought-tolerant and native ones.

"I think we could also do a better job of water application. A lot of landscapes people expect to look green in the summer, and so not only trying to decide what potentially doesn’t need to be irrigated, but using plants that need less water, but then just being a lot better about efficient use of water. We tend to waste a lot of water, I think we could do a better job there too."

Rodie says emulating nature is key to having a landscape that will withstand drought conditions.

The weekly drought monitor report is available at droughtmonitor.unl.edu.