Organic Water-Saving Tips For Your Lawn
With cities cracking down on water wasters, and a growing environmental conscience, saving water has become a greater priority with homeowners. But does this have to come at the expense of having a lush green lawn? Thankfully, no. Here are some organic water-saving tips to help keep your lawn green this summer.
Install Underground Sprinklers
Underground sprinklers deliver water to the roots of plants reducing the amount of water lost to the air and wasted on the top blades of lawn. Instead, water is delivered right to where plants need it most. Advanced timers and water gauges help you know exactly when you need to water, and how much water to deliver.
Whether your priority is your lawn or gardens or both, inground sprinklers can be placed in zones to correspond with the water-needs of the plant varieties in that part of your yard, the amount of shade, and account for depressions and lower lying areas.
Plant Diversity
Native plants are more weather hardy, drought resistant, and use less water than non-native species. Rye and fescue grasses use less water than the popular Kentucky blue grass for instance. The same goes for your gardens.
Planting deciduous trees provides shade in the hottest days of summer which helps the plants it shelters use less water but also lowers carbon emissions. Spacing plants further apart makes a less inviting environment for pests such as voles.
Home owners are increasingly diversifying their yard based on their family’s needs. Rock gardens, mulch, and other alternatives are able to conserve more water than lawn.
Rain Barrels
Depending on the size and placement of a rain barrel, the water savings can be substantial. Connecting a water barrel to the downspout on your roof can fill a 55 gallon rain barrel in a single storm (based on average roof size).
Reuse Your Water
Instead of straining that cooking water down the drain, why not recycle it? That pot of boiling water can be used to kill weeds growing in the cracks of your sidewalk or patio. Water from cooking potatoes or other vegetables can be cooled and used to water plants as the nutrients in the water can be absorbed by the plants. The same goes for the water from your fish tank. Next time you clean out your fish tank, siphon the water into a pail and water your gardens with the nitrogen rich waste.
Pot Wisely
While experts agree the best time of day to water your lawn or garden is early in the morning to avoid evaporation and prevent mildew, the same does not hold true for your potted plants. Whether you’re a container gardener or simply keep one pot of flowers on the front step for curb appeal, the best time of day to water containers is at noon.
The type of pot or material used will affect water consumption. Clay pots, such as terracotta, lose moisture quicker than glazed pots. It’s popular to use upcycled rain gutters and other metal castoffs as container or vertical gardens, but metal heats up and moisture is quickly absorbed from the soil. Food for thought.
Contact the irrigation experts at Nutri-Lawn Ottawa to learn more about smart ways to save water this season. Whether you want to help the environment or save money, there are irrigation options to suit your needs and your budget.