10 Easy Ways to Use Less Water in Your Landscaping
Roughly half of all residential outdoor water is used to maintain landscapes and gardens. Adopt these fast, easy ways to use less water in your landscape, and you can reduce the volume of water you consume and cut your water bills at the same time:
- Water in the morning. Do it early before the heat begins to rise so moisture can soak in rather than evaporate. In hot, arid regions, experts suggest watering between 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM. Because winds tend to be lower in the early morning, you’ll also lose less moisture to wind drift.
- Water less. On average, most landscapes will thrive on about one inch of water obtained through rainfall and irrigation. If it’s rained recently, skip manual watering, override your automatic sprinkler system or reduce the length of the cycle so you meet but don’t exceed the one-inch target level.
- Water deeply. Most established landscapes respond best to deeper, less frequent sessions. Thorough watering reduces evaporation loss and encourages strong, deep root growth, so plants, turf and trees are healthier overall and better able to tolerate dry spells or temporary watering bans.
- Mulch plant beds. Mulched plants require 25% less water than those that aren’t mulched, and many experts consider mulch to be one of the easiest, most effective ways to conserve water in the landscape.
- Mulch bare spots. If you have empty beds or bare spots in your landscape, cover the soil with mulch. It will slow water loss to make more moisture generally available for nearby turf, trees and plants.
- Prune regularly. Removing wayward branches, stragglers and unwanted growth does more than restore a pleasing shape, it reduces the number of leaves, decreases water loss and lessens the water requirements for plants, shrubs and trees.
- Mow less. Turf is one of the highest water users in most landscapes. Adjust mower height so grass is taller and mow less frequently. Taller grass helps shade soil surfaces to slow evaporation and puts down deeper roots, so it can tolerate dry spells and make better use of the water you apply.
- Fertilize less. Fertilizer promotes growth and makes your landscape thirstier. Use it sparingly and only as necessary to keep plants, trees and grass healthy.
- Eliminate leaks. Examine outdoor spigots, hoses, couplings and attachments for leaks and drips. Fix any leaks, and use hose washers and leak-free connectors to eliminate minor drips that can waste as much as 450 gallons of water a month.
- Use a broom. Instead of hosing off paved surfaces, use a broom to remove dust, dirt, leaves and twigs.