It’s no secret that a healthy, lush landscape requires proper irrigation. Without water, grass and plants will turn brown and eventually die.
However, water is also a valuable resources, with many municipalities restricting the amount of outdoor water homeowners can use. And even if there isn’t a water restriction in your area, irrigating a large landscape can be expensive.
Thankfully, though, there are steps you can take to conserve water in your landscape, some of which we’re going to explore in this blog post.
Identify Evapotranspiration
Try to determine the evapotranspiration (ET) rate in your area. This is essentially the amount of water that evaporates from the soil to reach the leaves of your grass and plants.
Generally speaking, you need to replace the amount of water lost through ET. Different regions have different ET rates, however. You can typically find the ET rate for your area by calling the local water department.
Use Mulch
Another helpful tip to conserve water is to add mulch to flowerbeds and gardens. How exactly does this help? While mulch doesn’t necessarily add water or moisture, it’s still beneficial for its ability to retain moisture.
When added to a flowerbed, for instance, mulch reduces the rate at which moisture evaporates from the soil, meaning there’s more water for your plants to absorb. Additionally, mulch discourages the growth and intrusion of weeds, which is another reason why you should use it.
Mow Your Lawn
Mowing your lawn can reduce the water requirements of your grass. Conventional wisdom should lead you to believe that short grass requires less water than tall grass. Therefore, it’s recommended that you maintain a lawn height of approximately two to three inches.
Avoid Turf Grass
When possible, try to avoid using turf grass in your landscape. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), bluegrass and other turf grass requires a substantial amount of water.
Although its easy on the eyes – which is why so many residential landscapes use it – turf grass is a poor choice for water conservation. Instead, consider using a more drought-tolerant grass variety that requires less water.
Prune
Finally, be sure to prune your plants and shrubs on a regular basis. When plants develop unnecessary shoots and stems, it forces them to consume more water. This problem is easily avoided, however, by pruning them. Using a pair of sharp gardening shears, snip off any unwanted shoots and stems.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
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