this post is about saving water outdoors … if you’re interested in more suggestions, i’ve already posted water-saving tips for general, kitchen, bathroom, and laundry habits … i’ll split the outdoor water-saving tips into 2 posts to keep the entries relatively short but comprehensive …

most important tip:

* collect rain water …  this is becoming increasingly vital in areas all around the world … you can either purchase a rain barrel or use your own buckets and pails to harvest celestial down pours, then use this water to hydrate your indoor and outdoor garden plants, including grasses … you can also use this water for doing laundry, cleaning surfaces, washing dishes, bathing your pets, or washing your car … alternatively, you can direct water from rain gutters and HVAC systems toward water-loving plants and trees in your garden or landscape …

gardens — flowerbeds, lawns, & landscape maintenance …

* if you appreciate the aesthetic and appeal of rock gardens and/or wildflower beds, convert all (or as much as you feel comfortable) of your grass to these forms of landscaping … rock gardens require minimal amount of water and maintenance … similarly, wildflowers are adapted to the regional climate and soil conditions in which you live, and therefore can physiologically tolerate normal fluctuations in precipitation, relative humidity, and temperature … both rock and wildflower gardens also tend to be more resilient to pests (including unwanted weeds, insects, pathogens, and vermin), hence decreasing the need for chemical pesticides (or, if you patiently control pests manually, it will spare you from physical labour!) …

a rock garden

wildflowers

* another way to avoid having a lawn or to decrease the surface area covered by grass is to build a walkway, patio, and/or gazebo to provide space that doesn’t require any water … these additions can also add value to your property …

* you can also decrease grass area by planting trees, shrubs, and ground covers appropriate to your climate zone …

* if you use a sprinkler, position it and adjust water pressure to ensure that only plants are watered, and not surfaces such as your driveway, house, sidewalk, or street …

* use sprinklers only for large areas of grass … water small patches by hand to avoid wasting water needlessly …

* choose sprinklers that discharge big drops of water close to the ground … gentle sprays, smaller water drops, and mists often evaporate before they hit the ground …

* water your lawn in the early morning (before 9:00 am is best) to minimize evaporation … avoid watering in the late evening or early night as any retained surface moisture may promote fungal growth …

* avoid watering your lawn on windy days (especially if you’re using a sprinkler) when most of the water blows away or evaporates …

* regulate your watering frequency and water quantity with precipitation … use a rain gauge or shallow cup (e.g., empty yogourt cup or other such product package container) to monitor rainfall on your lawn … reduce water use accordingly …

a simple rain gauge

* also use a similar method to measure sprinkler output … 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) of water on 30 square centimetres (1 square foot) of grass is equivalent to 2.5 litres (2/3 gallon) of water …

* here is a good guideline to calculate how much water your lawn requires …

* instead of following a set watering schedule, check for soil moisture 5 to 7.5 centimetres (2 to 3 inches) below the surface before watering …

* if you manually set up your sprinklers to water the lawn, set a timer (e.g., timer on the kitchen stove) to remind you to turn it off … also, avoid leaving the house when your sprinklers are on because unexpected events may cause you to be away from home a lot longer than you may anticipate … keep in mind that on average, a running hose can release up to 40 litres (10 gallons) per minute!

* if you have an automatic sprinkler system, make sure to manually adjust it (turn it off) before or after a rainfall … alternatively, install a rain sensor for automatic regulation …

* know where your master water shut-off valve is located … this could save water and prevent damage to your home …

* monitor water absorption on your lawn … water only as much, and as quickly, as the soil can absorb it …

* re-seed and apply topsoil and mulch each spring and/or fall to ensure maximum water absorption and retention throughout the summer months …

* aerate your lawn at least once a year to facilitate water absorption … maximizing water absorption ensures water reaches the roots rather than runs off or evaporates from the surface …

* if water still runs off your lawn easily (e.g., if you have a sloping lawn), divide watering time into 2 or 3 shorter periods (e.g., 5 minutes each) rather than 1 long watering to increase grass root absorption …

* allow your lawn go dormant during the summer … dormant grass requires water only every three weeks (or less if it rains) …

* regularly check your sprinkler system valves for leaks and maintain sprinkler heads in good working order …

* adjust your lawn mower to cut grass at a height of 5 to 7.5 centimetres (2 to 3 inches) … taller grass shades the roots and soil surface, which reduces water evaporation … taller grass is also stronger, healthier, and less susceptible to drought, weed encroachment, and pathogenic infections … to err on the safe side, raise your lawn mower wheels to the highest setting …

* plant your flowers and re-seed your lawn in the spring and/or fall when rainfall is higher and temperatures are cooler …

* when planning your landscape, choose:

* shrubs and ground covers instead of grass for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips …

* plants that are adapted to your regional climate and soil conditions … local plants (like wildflowers) will be more drought-tolerant and more pest-resistant …

Trachelium caeruleum, known commonly as midnight blue or blue throatwort, is tolerant to dry conditions

* plants that naturally don’t require a lot of water and maintenance …

* to group plants with the same watering needs together … this will prevent over-watering of some plants while under-watering others …

* a blend of grass species that are native to your area and are therefore suited for the climate, soil, and rainfall conditions … in addition to saving water, local grass species are more likely to remain healthy, resilient, and vibrant …

* obligatory summer dormant grasses …

an example of drip irrigation & companion planting, both of which reduce water use & reduce the need for pesticides

* use drip irrigation for shrubs, trees, and other deep-rooted plants … this will ensure water reaches the roots rather than the leaves and bark …

* use a layer of mulch or cedar chips in flower beds to minimize growth of weeds that compete for water and nutrients …

* applying a small amount of compost around the base of trees, shrubs, and flowers also increases drought tolerance while providing a rich source of organic, assimilable nutrients … make sure there are no unwanted seeds in the compost, as these will germinate and compete with your flower plants …

* leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on the soil … this helps keep the soil cooler and reduces evaporation …

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in my next post (monday july 6) i’ll continue with more tips on how to save water outdoors …