Expert Tips to Save Water in the Landscape
September 10, 2015 | By webadmin
Even with all the rains this spring, and the reduction of water restrictions in some parts of North Texas, using water wisely in the landscape is still a huge concern. A bout of rainfall is no guarantee of continued moisture; we recently went 40+ days without a drop of rain this summer. It’s very easy to quickly slide back into severe drought conditions here in the Dallas area.
Smart watering is of course a huge part of saving water in the landscape. But there are many other things you can do to cut back on the water bill without giving up a beautiful landscape.
Use Native or Adapted Plants: There are many tough plants that don’t need a lot of water.
Choosing the right plants is probably the biggest step towards achieving a low-maintenance, low-water use landscape. But don’t think you have to trade beauty for toughness; we’re lucky to have many beautiful native and adapted low-water plants that also look beautiful in Dallas. A few favorites include Turk’s cap, Columbine ‘Texas Gold’, Gray Leaf Cotoneaster and daffodils (Fall is the time to plant daffodils so plan now!)
When you water is as important as how much you water.
Remember that automated watering is always prohibited in Dallas between the hours of 10am and 6pm. That’s because warmer temperatures cause much of your irrigation water to be lost to evaporation. Be sure your automatic irrigation systems are set to water at the proper times.
Early morning watering is best for most landscape plants. When you water at night, you risk causing fungal diseases to take hold in your lawn and certain landscape plants.
Mulch is multipurpose!
Mulch is a gardeners best friend. Mulch helps soil retain moisture during the heat of summer and keeps plant roots cool. Mulching at the start of summer is a must if you want to hold on to the irrigation water you apply to your lawn and garden. In winter, mulch protects plant roots from the cold. As a bonus, mulch gives the landscape a finished look.
Healthy soil retains more moisture.
Healthy soil brimming with microorganisms and organic matter holds holds on to more water and also allows water to drain through the soil properly. Our tough clay soil can hold too much water during heavy rains; then or dry out too quickly when the summer heat sets in. Adding organic matter, such as compost, is a good way to improve the soil and increase bioactivity so you can water less.
Catch the rainwater
Fall is a great time to install a rain barrel. Rain barrels are perfect for capturing supplemental water that you can use in your landscape during dry times. They are especially handy for keeping containers watered without turning on your tap.
Rain barrels don’t have to be unattractive either; we can design creative containers and even blend them into your landscape so they’re not an eyesore. More tips on rain barrels here.
Drip irrigation
Drip irrigation systems apply water directly to the root zone, rather than spraying a bunch of wasted water into the air. With drip irrigation, you can save 50%-70% of irrigation water commonly lost to evaporation, runoff or improperly working sprinkler heads. More benefits drip at a glance here.
