Twelve Smart Watering Practices to Save $ Over the Summer

More than 50% of our water consumption takes place in our yards and gardens. But there are easy ways to reduce our water usage, with the benefit of stronger plants, less maintenance, lower water bills, and decreased demand for natural resources.

Here are our top 12 recommendations to save water this summer.

Install a Drip System

Installing a drip irrigation system in your planting beds puts water where it's needed - at the plants' roots. The slow flow means the soil will absorb the water, preventing runoff. With a drip system, you can save up to 60 percent of the water used by sprinklers.

Water Roots, Not Leaves

 If you don’t have a drip irrigation system, use a hose to water deep into the root zone rather than spraying the leaves. Watering just the leaves of a plant increases water loss through evaporation.

Use an Efficient Sprinkler

Drip irrigation works well in planting beds but not so well on lawns. If you water your lawn, use an efficient lawn sprinkler. A sprinkler can use as much water in an hour as a family of four will use in a day! Oscillating sprinklers use much more water and are less efficient than misting ones.

Inspect Sprinklers Often

Check your sprinklers or in-ground system frequently for leaks and kinks.

Water Plants, Not Pavement

Adjust sprinklers so water reaches only your lawn and garden, not the house, sidewalk, or street.

Use a Timer

A forgotten sprinkler can waste more than 250 gallons of water an hour. A timer makes sure you never forget.

Stop the Flow

Use a spring-loaded hose sprayer/nozzle or hose-end turn-off device so you don’t waste water while walking back to the faucet to turn it off.

Water Less Often

Healthy lawns don’t need nearly the amount of water we think they do. If the grass springs back up after you walk on it, it doesn’t need water. You could also let your lawn go dormant for the summer; most grasses rebound when rains return in fall.

Water Deeply

Water infrequently, deeply, and thoroughly. This stops wasteful runoff and encourages roots to grow deeper. Plants with deep roots develop greater tolerance to dry spells.

Watch the Weather

If rain is in the forecast, don’t water. After a good rain, hold off on watering until the soil dries out. And if the weather is cool and/or humid, cut back on the frequency and volume of water.

Water Early in the Day

Avoid watering during the heat of the day – most of it will evaporate before it reaches the roots. Water early in the day to decrease evaporation. Avoid windy days for the same reason.

Prioritize Watering

Focus on those areas that need a little more care, rather than watering everything in the same way. For example, new plants need more frequent watering than established trees and shrubs.

Thanks to Higher Ground Tree Care for these watering tips!