Outdoor Water Usage Tips

With spring in the air and warmer weather fast approaching, I thought it was a great time to talk about lowering our outdoor water usage. Here are some tips that will make a huge impact on both the environment and our pocketbooks!

• Avoid over-watering, since this can result in shallower roots and weaker plants. Don’t follow a fixed watering schedule – water only when grass or plants show signs of needing it.
• Don’t cut the grass too short. Longer grass helps shade the soil and keep its moisture.
• Wood chip or bark mulches in your flower beds can help reduce evaporation as well as suppress weed growth.
• Plant drought resistant varieties of trees and shrubs, especially native varieties. They will require less water and will be hardier.
• Minimize or eliminate fertilizing, since fertilizers contain salts which intensify drought conditions for your plants. One good alternative would be to top dress the soil with compost, which helps to hold in the soils’ moisture.
• Water in the early morning or evening to prevent water loss through evaporation.