Cottonwood Heights resident named ‘Ripper of the year'


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(KSL News) Cottonwood Heights resident Sue Diamond was named "Ripper of the Year" by the Utah Rivers Council and Staker Parson Landscape Centers.

She xeriscaped her parking strip and her front yard with native grass, and colorful rocks and mulch.

Staker Parson Landscape Centers awarded $500 to the Ripper of the Year and $200 to honorable mention, Dan Rivers of Salt Lake City. Both winners received carved-stone plaques from Staker Parson to display in their yards.

"Each strip we visited looked great, and we appreciate all the entrants who ripped their strips and demonstrated a commitment to water-wise landscaping," said Amy Defreese of the Utah Rivers Council. "Sue Diamond scored consistently well under all of our criteria. Her strip was thoughtfully designed to maximize water efficiency and aesthetic appeal. For example, she used low-water use plants, native to Utah and pleasing to the senses. By installing a drip irrigation system, she has ensured her strip is maintained long term with little effort."

"We live in a dry state and we're glad to see a trend of people trying to live more appropriately, replacing their water-thirsty grass with colorful decorative rock and low-water use plants," said Lisa Nielson, marketing director for Staker Parson Companies, a contest sponsor.

Diamond said, "With the cost of water and the dry environment we live in, it just didn't make sense to maintain a grassy parking strip. My new landscape will cost less to maintain in the long run, which is a real benefit, and I'm really enjoying the colors and smells of the native plants."

More than 4,000 people have taken the Rip Your Strip pledge since 2005. Their strips are part of the Xeriscape movement that is spreading throughout the state.

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