Save Water This Summer

by Murray Anderson

We all know that having a green lawn during the hot summer months requires a lot of water. A California study of water usage found that almost 50% was for lawn and garden maintenance while showers and toilets only used 20 to 25%. Pretty dramatic numbers, and very easy to see that by cutting down on the amount of water you use keeping your lawn green can have a dramatic impact on your water usage bill and the environment. Here’s some ideas on how you can cut down on your water consumption this summer.

Planning ahead will help

• Water your lawns or gardens in the morning (the coolest part of the day) so the moisture will have time to sink in before evaporating in the hot sun.
• Adjust your sprinklers so they spread water only onto your lawn or garden. If it’s windy, don’t turn them on. The wind will make the water evaporate more quickly and could blow it onto sidewalks or driveways, where it just runs off.
• Water less frequently but longer. Cool season grasses (bluegrass, ryes, fescues) only need about ½” of water every two to three days (depending on rainfall) to stay healthy. 
• Measure how long it takes your sprinklers to deliver this amount of water by putting rain gauge on the ground (or even easier, using a clean tuna tin). Once you know how long it take your sprinklers to deliver ½” of water you can turn them on and off at appropriate times.
• Inexpensive water timers are available at home and hardware stores. You’ve got lots of choices, manual, battery powered or even solar powered timers are available, and once installed, you won’t have to remember to turn your sprinklers on and off.

More ways to save water

• Make sure you hose is properly attached to the bib, since this is often a place where water is wasted. Put a new washer into your hose and if the connection still leaks, wrap some Teflon tape around the threads on the bib.
• Apply an organic fertilizer to your lawn in the spring and fall. This provides a good growing environment for your lawn and keeps it healthy.
• Use a mulching mower to put nutrients back into your lawn. The tiny grass particles are full of energy to keep your lawn healthy. (Using bark or wood mulch around your plants and shrubs will also help to hold moisture and prevent evaporation).
• Consider installing a rain barrel to catch water coming off your roof. You’d be amazed at how much water comes off a roof during a summer rainfall and capturing just a small percentage of it will minimize your water bills. (As an extra bonus the rainwater won’t contain any added chemicals).
• You could even change the type of grass in your lawn. New strains of grass are being developed that don’t require as much water as traditional lawn grasses. By overseeding with one of these new strains for a couple of years, you’ll end up with a lawn that just doesn’t need as much water.

Murray Anderson is an experienced freelance writer. His work has covered a wide range of topics, but he specializes in home maintenance and how to have. He has more than 500 articles published on the web, as well as print magazines and newspapers in both the United States and Canada.