In most cases, these new tall-fescue lawns look better simply because they are new, and owners, careful of their investment, are watering them more often. It's quite easy to keep a new lawn looking good for three, five, even 10 years, but then the soil becomes compacted, thatch (dead grass and runners) begins to build up, water begins to run off, and fertility drops. At that point, no amount of water is going to make it look good. A lawn of redone Bermuda grass or of newly planted warm-season grass would look as good as a new tall-fescue lawn but would require less water.

Even without threats from city governments, some gardeners have already said their farewells to front lawns, the least used of lawns. "I got sick and tired of pushing a lawn mower for almost 80 years," says Robert A. Mitchell of Los Angeles, who tore out an aging Bermuda-grass lawn and replaced it with various succulents and ground covers, including gazanias and red-apple ice plant, and shrubs. "All that mowing, edging, fertilizing and weeding got to me. But I finally did it because I think it's important to save water. I think lawns are passe now." His new ground covers are irrigated (with the old lawn sprinklers) only once every two weeks; the lawn was watered two or three times a week.

PHOTO: COLOR, It's against the law to water a lawn with sprinklers in Santa Barbara this summer so lawns are as golden as the grasses in the nearby hills. Unlike the native grasses, these lawns will not come back with the first rain. / Richard Ross; PHOTO: COLOR, Robert Mitchell converted his Los Angeles front lawn to gazanias and other ground covers and found a place for wife Louise's succulents in the process. He reports that the new plantings use less water and are less work than the former lawn.; PHOTO: COLOR, [Michael Dula] and [Alison Sowden] said goodby to their front lawn and planted ground covers and drought resistant perennials.; PHOTO: COLOR, Most of landscape architect [Lisa Iwata]'s garden is water-thrifty, but in the fall this xeriscaper will be planting enough lawn for her daughter, Alyssa, to play on. Says another proponent of xeriscape: "You can't ask you kids to go play on coyote brush." / Robert Landeau; PHOTO: COLOR, [Bob Reed], right, planted the front yard of his own home in this new Riveside tract with drought-resistant plants. Landscape designer [John DeForest], left, made it a delightful mix of everything from cacti to native scarlet delphiniums.