Californians swap out thirsty grass lawns for gardens to cope with historic drought

As California faces an historic drought, residents are tearing out thirsty lawns to cut down on water use.

Water agencies across the state have been encouraging the change by offering thousands of dollars in rebates to help homeowners make the switch to a drought-friendly landscape with better odds of surviving dry spells common to the local climate.

Water officials hope the shift is more than a fad and marks the beginning of a transformation in the way residents view neighborhood landscapes.

To date, most lawns in Southern California don't bear greenery other than grass but water agency officials say the interest in turf removal programs — fueled in part by an increase in rebate rates — is encouraging.