14 Ways to Conserve Water in Your Landscape

(First published on Hardisonink.com)

     Cool, clear water on a hot summer day tastes so sweet.  It seems so abundant, yet it's such a precious, scarce resource.  We must have it to survive, but our supplies are constantly being threatened. Growing populations, salt water intrusion into fresh water wells, pollution, and other factors reduce the state's available water supply.

 

Sprinkler watering the street!

     Gardens and landscapes also need fresh water to survive.  There are many ways, however, that water use can be managed to keep the garden healthy without hurting the environment.

     Here are 14 ways to conserve water in your landscape.

     1.  Let the lawn tell you when it needs water.  Turn irrigation systems off and use them only when the lawn shows signs of drought stress.  This will increase rooting depth and drought tolerance.  Folding leaf blades, blue-gray color, and footprints remaining visible are all signs that the lawn needs water.   

     2.  Use the proper amount of water.  In most Florida soils, applying between 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch of water is adequate.  Applying more water than the grass can absorb only wastes water and pollutes water supplies.  A too-wet lawn also increases the risk of disease and weed problems.

     3.  Water plants early in the morning.  Wind and temperature levels later in the day increase evaporation.

     4.  Hand water when possible, because it uses less water than an automatic irrigation system.

     5.  Check irrigation systems to be sure rain sensors are working properly.  Required by state law since 1991, rain sensors skip irrigation if it has rained.

     6.  Consider using a cistern or rain barrel for catching water for irrigation.  Cisterns are storage tanks that collect rainfall.  Information on cistern design, construction and use can be found at "Cisterns To Collect Non-Potable Water For Domestic Use," http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae029.

     7.  Point sprinkler heads at plants, not streets, driveways and sidewalks.

     8.  Check weather forecasts.  If rain is forecast in the next forty-eight hours, hold off on irrigating.

     9.  Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.  Otherwise, water will run off quickly and carry soil away, exposing roots to harsh sunlight.

Drip Irrigation, "Conserving Water in the
Home Landscape," by Robert J. Black

     10. Use drip or trickle irrigation.  In drip irrigation, a plastic tube is located on or below the ground surface.  Nozzles from the tube slowly release water around the plants.  This saves water, limits weeds, and increases growth of the plant.  

     11.  Grow drought-tolerant plants. 

     12.  Plan your landscape to conserve water.  Use the principle, "Right Plant, Right Place," and select plants that suit your yard.  More information and suggestions on plant selection can be found in "Planning Your Landscape to Conserve Water," at http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/water/articles/planning.shtml . 

     13. Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch around plants to retain moisture in the soil and prevent competition from weeds.

     14. Repair leaking hoses, sprinklers, and faucets. Test the irrigation system periodically to make sure it’s operating correctly.

     These recommendations include some ways we can help to conserve water.  It is essential to balance our need for water in the landscape with the need for water conservation.  If we all work together we can help to protect our water supplies long into Florida's future.

     For more information about water use and conservation in Florida, see "Water Resources"at http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/environment/water_resources.html, and  "Watering and Irrigation" at http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/maintenance_and_care/watering_and_irrigation.html.

Sources

"Let Your Lawn Tell You When To Water," by L.E. Trenholm and J. Bryan Unruh, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep054 .

"Conserving Water in the Home Landscape," by Robert J. Black, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg217

"Watering and Irrigation," http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/maintenance_and_care/watering_and_irrigation.html

"Cisterns To Collect Non-Potable Water For Domestic Use," by Ray A. Bucklin, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae029