| Landscape and Irrigation Tips
On the average, each person uses approximately 80 gallons of water per day inside the house. An equivalent amount is used each day to maintain outdoor landscaping. Much of this water is needlessly wasted. But, with a little planning, the amount of water required for landscaping can be significantly reduced.
The amount of water required for landscaping depends on the type and location of the plants (i.e., lawn, annual flowers, trees and shrubs). If special attention is given to the placement and use of drought resistant plants, less water will be necessary to keep a yard or garden green.
One way to install landscaping based on the plant's water requirements is to design a "zone" plan. Group plants with similar water requirements into water zones, as shown in the example. A plan of this type will not only save water, but will help simplify your irrigation layout. Spray irrigation, for example, while appropriate for lawn areas, is inefficient and wasteful for shrubs, and flowers. The lawn area, therefore, should be in a separate zone from the shrubs and flowers. Usually three water zones are adequate for a single family house. Plant lists are available to help you select plants to fit the climate, amount of sun, and type of irrigation required. A list of public agencies that offer plant lists are included in this brochure.
Additional water conservation can be achieved by following these simple tips:
- Water a lawn regularly and for short periods of time.
- Water during late-night or early morning hours to reduce evaporation.
- Do not water on windy days.
- Fertilize your lawn in the spring instead of the summer.
- Do not allow weeds to grow in your lawn because they rob your lawn of water.
- Mix mulch in the soil. Mulch helps retain moisture and reduces the need for frequent watering.
- Aerate your lawn at least twice a year to reduce runoff and to encourage a healthy deep rooted lawn.
- Use an automatic timer to program each water zone for only the amount of water needed.
Lawn areas generally place the highest demand on water resources. However, the demand for water can be reduced by the size and shape of your lawn. Since the most effective way to irrigate a lawn is by spray irrigation, well defined and simple shapes prove the easiest to install and the most efficient. Narrow lawn areas, particularly those that are less than 10 feet in width, are not recommended because of the possibility of over spray. Sloped lawn areas also should be avoided because of the potential for water runoff. Drought tolerant grasses should always be considered when installing a new lawn. These grasses,such as the attractive fescues, are becoming more popular and are now available from your local plant nursery. And if a lawn is not required for recreational purposes, other drought tolerant, non-turf ground covers can create an appealing landscape alternative.
Unlike shallow-rooted turf and lawn areas that do well with spray irrigation, shrubs and flowers absorb water more efficiently from deep watering. Therefore, drip irrigation is the most efficient method of watering these types of plants. Many beautiful yet drought tolerant shrubs and flowers are available that require little or no irrigation once they are established. Identify the sunny and shady areas of your yard and buy plants accordingly. Plants that require more water should be placed in areas that receive more shade so that evaporation can be kept to a minimum. Drought tolerant plants can be located in areas that have longer exposure to direct sunlight. Plant selection guides are recommended to help you choose the best landscape plants for your yard.
The strategic placement of trees in the landscape plan can help reduce overall water use in the yard by providing shade and wind breaks. Trees should not be planted in lawn areas because of the adverse effect of over watering at shallow depths. Over watering a tree results in a shallow root system with increased surface roots. A way to avoid over watering is to install a perforated deep watering pipe next to the newly planted tree. Watering through this pipe will encourage a deep root system and will reduce the tree's reliance on surface water. Eventually, the tree will require little or no water to survive.
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