Lawn Care Water Conservation: Tips for the Home Owner
When it comes to your home’s lawn care, watering your lawn and landscape to keep it healthy and beautiful is a key component. However high water bills and overwatering are problems that tend to associate with this important step. Kansas City's Heritage Lawns & Irrigation put together a few tips for you to follow when it comes to outdoor water conservation.
Use an automatic timed sprinkler system to water your yard. It is the most efficient water system because it controls the amount of water used. It can also be set to run overnight or in the early morning when temperatures and winds are at the lowest levels, reducing the amount of evaporation.
Install a drip sprinkler system. Slow watering can save up to 60% of all water used in lawn and garden areas.
Spike or aerate lawns. This ensures maximum water penetration.
Use pressurized irrigation systems. They deliver water more efficiently than any other method of lawns, gardens and crops.
Avoid wasting water. When it comes to cleaning sidewalks and driveways, use a broom or a blower instead of a hose.
Utilize soil moisture measurement devices. They monitor the amount of water in the soil available to plants and will turn irrigation watering on or off as appropriate to maximize plant growth while minimizing water use.
Properly prune or trim trees, shrubs and other woody plants. This not only maximizes the plants health, it also minimizes invasion by pests.
Remove dead or dying plants, including weeds. When still in the ground, they compete with the healthy, living plants for available water.
Wash cars with a bucket of water. Do not let the water run while washing your car. Use a nozzle or hose-end turn off valve. If possible, drive your vehicle onto the lawn so excess water can be absorbed into the landscape.
Use pool covers to reduce evaporation. In arid climates, an average sized swimming pool loses about 1,000 gallons of water per month if left uncovered.
Avoid using sprinklers for play. Yes, this is extremely enjoyable for young children but it accounts for an incalculable loss of water.
Loosen soil around plants occasionally. Doing this or mulching the soil surface helps to cut down on water evaporation.
So there you have it, Heritage’s tips and tricks for outdoor water conservation. For more information on how to keep your lawn and landscape healthy and beautiful give us a call at (913) 451-4664.
