You can still treat your landscape well while conserving water.
During the hot summer months, homeowners can use two to four times as much household water as they normally do, just to water their lawn! But did you know that all that water use may not be necessary? You can conserve water through several factors, including the design of your landscape, the plants you choose to grow, and how you apply water to your landscape. There are smarter ways to water your lawn this summer while conserving water usage, expenses, and all the while keeping your landscape green and healthy.
Forget the Sprinklers
It may be easy to set a sprinkler to cover your lawn and let it go all afternoon. However, much of the sprinkler water can be lost to breeze and evaporation. Different plants require different amounts of water as well. Using a sprinkler as a catch-all solution means you may overwater some plants while underwatering others.
Be Smart About Using The Hose
Hose and nozzle watering can also become wasteful. Keep your spray or shower directed toward each particular plant and use a trigger nozzle that can allow you to turn off the water as you move between plants. A nozzle with multiple settings can also allow you to adjust the spray and pressure to avoid plant damage and run-off.
Hand Water Select Plants
Hand-watering small gardens or specific plants can help you conserve water and prevent plant damage. A watering can is a great and affordable tool that lets you apply water directly to the plant that needs it most. Watering cans are also great for catching natural rainfall to use instead of household water.
How to Water Garden Vegetables
Garden vegetables and bedding plants are best watered near the soil, which keeps moisture off leaves, stems, and blossoms. Watering on the foliage here may encourage fungal growth and attract insects.
Irrigation Systems
Using soaker hoses, drip irrigation, and other water conservation tools can help you water large areas more efficiently. If your watering system is on a timer, use a rain or soil moisture detector to keep it from running when it isn’t needed. If different watering zones are a feature of your system, make sure they are set up correctly depending on the needs of the plant material you have.
Mulch Correctly
Mulching between plants and rows helps to slow evaporation from the soil. This means your plants will require less watering throughout the summer.
Aerate Before and After Summer
Aerating your lawn in the spring helps your yard maintain moisture through the summer while aerating in the fall helps maintain that retention.
Set Your Lawn Mower Higher
Leave at least three inches of grass, or three-and-a-half for fescue after each mowing. This added height shades the ground and slows water evaporation.
Practice Grass Recycling
Grass recycling refers to taking the clippings bag off your mower and letting the cut grass clippings settle back into the yard. These clippings act as a kind of mulch that helps hold soil moisture, while the decaying grass encourages beneficial microbes that keep your turf healthy.
Following these mindful landscape maintenance tips during the summer can help you conserve water while providing the best care for your grass and gardens.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!