5 Easy Ways to Save Water This Summer

Summer is finally here. As temperatures rise, the plants in your landscape will start losing water more quickly and you may have to water them more frequently. Homeowners waste thousands of gallons of water every year in their landscape.

If you want to contribute to sustainability and reduce your carbon footprint this summer, take these steps to save water in your landscape.

Water Your Landscape in the Morning or Evening

Water evaporates quickly when the sun is shining. Therefore, the best time to water your plants in summer is early morning or evening, as temperatures are lower during these times of the day, resulting in less water loss due to evaporation. If watering in the morning is convenient, try to water your plants before 10 AM to allow water enough time to seep into the soil.

Avoid watering your plants at night, as water will sit on their leaves and stems, instead of evaporating. Also, your soil can become water-logged, leading to mold and fungal growth on the leaves and around the roots. If you must water at night, apply water to the soil instead of your plants. To prevent water logging, use less water.

While these suggestions are best for your plants, water scarcity during periods of drought may cause your local water provider to mandate irrigation days and times.

Use Native and Drought-tolerant Plants in Your Landscape

Use native plants instead of exotic species in your landscape, as they are adapted to local environmental conditions, and hence, require far less water than many non-native species. Consider Bougainvillea, Agaves, Portulaca, Lantana, Sage, and other drought-tolerant plants that hardly need any water to survive.

Keep in mind that being knowledgeable about the specific environment around your home then researching the growing requirements for any plant you might wish to consider will help decide if a certain plant will perform better than another including native plants. In other words, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Apply Mulch

Mulch can help reduce water loss due to evaporation by up to 33% by shading the soil. It can also help suppress weeds and ensure that the nutrients your plants require to grow and thrive are available to them. Follow these steps to apply mulch like a professional landscaper in Santa Rosa.

• Using a garden spade, pull out any existing weeds in the area. Go deep enough to dig out their roots.
• Use a shovel or manual edger to create an edge for the mulch.
• Target approx. 3 inches deep of mulch
• Shovel small piles of mulch in the target areas.
• Rake the mulch piles to smooth and even out.
• Leave approx. 5% of the area bare for ground nesting pollinators.

Greywater

One of the best ways to reuse greywater is to pipe it directly outside so you can water the plants in your landscape. Greywater can contain contaminants such as soap scraps   detergents. Fortunately, soil and potting composts are quite effective at filtering them out. Avoid storing greywater for more than 24 hours or bacteria may start growing in it. Do not use it to water edible plants.

Set Up a Drip Irrigation System

If you still use a traditional sprinkler system, now is the right time to switch to a drip irrigation system. A drip irrigation system uses 20-50% less water than a traditional sprinkler system and can save up to 30,000 gallons of water every year. Do not install and forget an irrigation system. Make sure to regularly inspect it for leaks.

Gardenworks is a trusted landscaper in Santa Rosa. Our unparalleled ability to develop customized landscaping solutions for our customers sets us apart from other landscapers. To learn more, call (707) 857-2050.