GENERAL TIPS
AVOID OVERWATERING YOUR LAWN
According to UW-Extension guidelines, an established lawn only needs 1 inch of water per-week during dry periods to stay in prime condition. During the driest and hottest weeks of summer your lawn may go dormant and turn brown. Your lawn which will green up again when the weather turns damp again.
Limit lawns to functional spaces so you never need to worry about watering or mowing those frustrating “tight-spots” again.
Choose the right plants. Native plants require little to no watering because they have adapted over thousands of years to the local climate.
Mulch your plant beds, trees and gardens. Mulch helps retain soil moisture which reduces the need for irrigation.
Let the grass grow. Keep the lawn at 2.5 inches and never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf tissue during any one mowing.
MORE LAWN WATERING TIPS
Irrigate in the morning to minimize evaporation in the hot afternoon sun and wind. Regular evening lawn watering is not recommended because it can lead to grass disease problems.
Do a deep soak one time each week instead of light watering several times a week. Once a week watering promotes deep root growth and reduces water loss.
Purchase an automatic timer for your lawn sprinkler. Set it to automatically shut off after a desired application.
Use a drip hose to water planning beds and gardens. A drip hose get the water where the plants need it, at the roots.
OTHER TIPS
Stop leaks! Replace leaky hoses, nozzles and outdoor spickets.
Don’t be a hoser. Use a broom or leaf blower to clean your driveway and sidewalks.
Cover swimming pools. Evaporation alone can remove hundreds of gallons per month from an uncovered swimming pool. A cover can cut this loss by 90%.
Capture and recycle rain water when possible. Place a rain barrel or two beneath your downspouts. A one inch rain falling on a 500 square foot section of roof produces over 200 gallons of water you can capture and use for later watering.
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