With a few minor adjustments to the way that your lawn is water you can have huge impacts on reducing water usage. Learning the ways in which water is being overused in your landscaping will help you cut down on unnecessary water consumption. This will benefit your budget and even help out the planet as well.
Common Ways Water is Wasted
- Running off before it can be absorbed if it is watered too quickly, or if the water can’t sink into the soil effectively.
- It evaporates quickly from the soil, especially in spaces where bare dirt is exposed.
- The most frequent way that water is wasted is by overwatering.
Ways to Save Water
Avoid Overwatering
Plants only need about an inch of rainwater a week to flourish. If they’ve received that amount you shouldn’t need to water at all. Use rain gauges placed strategically around the property to monitor the amount of rainfall you receive.
Test Your Soil
Testing your soil and then adding the proper nutrients goes a long way in plant and soil health. Adding organic manure and mulch is beneficial by helping soil to have a greater capacity to absorb and retain moisture. This reduces the need for frequent watering and also helps get vital nutrients to your lawn making it healthier in the long run.
Water Strategically
Watering your lawn and plants as they need it versus watering on a set schedule ensures your plants get the appropriate amount of water, preventing damage done by over and underwatering. This practice also uses significantly less water in the process by making healthier plants and avoiding runoff due to overwatering.
Water early in the morning, before the sun causes water to evaporate, preventing it from entering into the soil.
Avoid watering when there is more wind as it will carry the water away before it hits the ground.
Help your lawn and plants grow healthy and more drought resistant roots by watering less frequently, and making sure the water sinks at least 8 inches into the ground. This will help the roots to grow more deeply in the ground, making your lawn stronger and healthier overall.
Water Efficiently
With the development of some new Smart Technology it can be easy to water when your yard needs it. This technology helps with maintaining a healthy yard and ensures your plants get the perfect amount of water for healthy growth. Some are based on local weather patterns to keep your yard pristine, while others measure the soil moisture to determine when to water.
Use water efficient sprinklers and irrigation systems and be sure to change your watering habits along with the seasons. Lawn sprinklers should apply water evenly across the yard with no pooling water. Checking frequently for any maintenance needs like leaks or broken sprinkler heads can prevent water waste and yellow spots in the yard. Use micro-irrigation on your landscaping to efficiently water trees, bushes, and gardens. This will make sure that when you water your landscape it’s getting to the roots at the optimal locations for plant growth.
Choosing drought resistant landscaping, especially in drier climates, which require less watering. Also planting native plants that are perfectly adapted to the local climate, meaning they should thrive with the amount of water that they receive naturally.
Keep Grass Healthy
Maintain a good grass height. Mowing the lawn regularly to keep it about 3 to 4 inches tall helps grass to stay strong and support healthy growth and regulation. Cutting more than one third of the height of the grass off at a time can cause the grass to go into shock making it harder for the plant to stay alive and grow properly.
Allowing your lawn to grow to a taller height also wards off diseases, hinders weeds ability to grow, creates a more resilient yard, and can help prevent insect invasions.