Texas may be in the middle of a drought and facing yet another dry summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy an attractive outdoor environment. With a little strategic planning, you can keep your lawn and plants looking good without wasting water.
Here are eight tips to help you save Austin’s most precious resource – and your landscape:
Tip #1:
Adjust your lawnmower to a higher setting. The taller your grass, the more the soil will get the shade it needs to minimize moisture loss.
Tip #2:
Use only the minimum amount of organic or slow release fertilizer. Doing so will help you promote a landscape that’s as healthy as it is drought tolerant.
Tip #3:
Remove weeds from your garden. This helps eliminate the excess water consumption that comes from plant competition.
Tip #4:
Water shaded areas 30% less than those in direct sunlight. Shade creates a microclimate of cooler temperatures and lower evaporation, so plants need less water.
Tip #5:
Use old pet water in your garden. If you have a fish tank or dog water bowl that needs emptying, take the used water and pour it on your lawn or in plant wells.
Tip #6:
Do your late spring or summer planting early in the morning or early evening when temperatures are cooler. You’ll save water and spare the plants a lot of stress.
Tip #7:
To help you avoid overwatering, use a trowel or shovel to check soil moisture depth. If the top two or three inches of soil is dry, then you know it’s time to water.
Tip #8:
Use a timer on hose-end sprinklers. Remember: sprinklers may only be used according to the schedule Austin Water Utility has assigned for your address (see http://austintexas.gov/department/stage-2-watering-restrictions for more details).
South Austin Irrigation can help you make the most of your landscape watering systems this summer. Whether its equipment sales or repair, we’ve got what you need. For irrigation system service you can count on no matter the season, contact us today!
