saving on water bills Archives - South Austin Irrigation

Xeriscaping in Texas

March 30, 2022 By Matt Sorenson

Xeriscaping is an excellent alternative to a traditional lawn and garden, especially in water-scarce Austin. This landscaping method uses drought-tolerant native and adaptive plants, which conserve water and reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides. While a xeriscape garden takes more planning and effort in the beginning, it requires less maintenance once it gets established.

Setting up

Make sure that the site you choose for xeriscaping is free of obstructions, such as trees with wide root systems and building foundations.

Preparing the ground

Till the soil to a depth of 6 inches, then spread a two-inch layer of organic matter such as shredded pine bark, rice hulls, compost or manure on the turned surface. Re-till the soil and mixture then rake the area to a smooth bed.

Plants/planting

Use vegetation that’s native or adapted to Texas. For example, if you decide on a lawn, use Buffalo and St. Augustine grasses. Also be sure to plant your garden according to plant spacing requirements. For example, autumn sage (a native Texas shrub) needs three to six feet of space.

Watering

Xeriscape plants require deep infrequent irrigation. Wait until the soil surface dries and the plants begin to wilt to hydrate them during the garden’s first season. During the fall and winter, water once a month, but only if those months are dry. In the second season, water only in case of a drought: established native plants thrive on normal rainfall alone. Use soaker hoses: these operate best two inches from the base of your plants. If you’ve planted grass, use a sprinkler instead.

Mulching

Apply a three-inch layer of mulch to the uncultivated areas of your xeriscape garden. Use pine bark, wood chips or compost to reduce water evaporation and suppress weeds. Cover the soaker hose with the mulch material and replenish the layer as organic matter decomposes.

Outdoor Water Saving Tips in Austin

February 22, 2022 By Matt Sorenson

Many homeowners are familiar with outdoor watering restrictions and are concerned about how to most efficiently use water. Having some helpful tips on how to save on outdoor water usage can help cut down your water bill and help the water supply.

It is recommended by Austin Water that by watering only one day a week with an irrigation system could save a substantial amount of money and water. This is compared to watering two to three times a week. Aside from saving money it will also save 7,000 to 14,000 gallons a month. This data was taken from Austin Water website, where you can also find your watering schedule.

In warmer weather we spend more time outdoors irrigating our lawns, caring for our gardens, and washing our vehicles. To help conserve water and save money when your outdoor water-usage increases follow these helpful tips.

Irrigation

Using an irrigation system is a common recommendation for saving on outdoor water use. This is due to the fact that an irrigation system will evenly distribute water to where it is needed. Whereas, a hose or sprinkler will over saturate areas as well as neglect areas that need watering. Once you have an irrigation system follow these tips to save water and save money:

Regularly inspect your system for any leaks or needed repairs. A thorough inspection should be done by a licensed irrigator in the spring, summer, and fall to ensure your system is running efficiently.
Check the watering schedule for your designated day and times.
Program your controller for the zone conditions in order to apply the correct amount of water (e.g. reduce irrigation in shaded areas). South Austin Irrigation can help you with the settings.
Install rain/freeze or soil moisture add-on sensors to conserve water.
Start irrigating with shorter times, and increase if you notice stressed grass areas.
Avoid wasting water and reduce evaporation by irrigating early in the morning when wind speeds and temperatures are lower.
Lawns need no more than 1 inch of water each week during the summer. This includes rainfall.
Your lawn needs less water in the spring and fall when the temperatures are cooler.
Make sure the sprinklers aren’t watering sidewalks, paved areas, fences, or the side of the house. Readjust sprinkler heads spraying into tall shrubs and grass.
After mowing, ensure sprinklers weren’t knocked out of alignment or the heads broken off.
Drip irrigation is the most efficient method for delivering water directly to the roots of bedded plants, trees, and shrubs.
You may be eligible for rebates when you improve your irrigation system’s water efficiency.
Austin Water offers a free irrigation system evaluation for customers using 20,000 gallons in 2 consecutive months, or 25,000 gallons in one month during the current irrigation season. Directions and a form are also available for a self-audit.
Hire a licensed irrigator to help you choose the most efficient irrigation methods for turf, trees, shrubs and bedded plants.

Lawns and Plants

Start practicing sustainable landscaping. You can find information at Grow Green on how to design sustainable landscapes for conserving water and protecting the environment.
Make use of unglazed clay pots or ollas to irrigate bedded plants. Seal any drainage holes, and bury the pots, leaving the neck exposed. Fill the pots with water, then cover. Place the plants within a 36-inch diameter to the olla. The water will seep through the clay slowly and irrigate the surrounding plants. Refill the pots once or twice a week.
Choose drought-tolerant native and adapted plants, and arrange them according to similar sun and water needs. Also, choose plants that will thrive under the particular site conditions.
Plant a grass type suitable to the climate, soil, and environment (shade or sun) that requires the least amount of water.
Don’t plant grass in narrow or oddly-shaped strips, or on steep slopes. These are hard to irrigate and waste water. Shrubs and groundcover are better for these areas.
At least once a year aerate your lawn so water can reach the roots. The best time for warm-season grasses is late spring or early summer. For cool-season grasses, aerate early in the fall.
Plant in cooler temperatures. It’s not as stressful for the plants, and they won’t need as much water.
Keep your grass at its highest optimum mowing height for its type. This encourages deeper root growth and reduces moisture loss by shading the soil.
Make sure plants are getting the right amount of water by measuring the soil moisture depth first. Use a shovel or trowel to dig into the soil. If the top 2 or 3 inches are dry, it’s time to water. You can also use a soil moisture meter.
Use hose-end sprinklers with a timer to prevent over-watering.
Place 2 to 4 inches of organic material, such as mulch or finished compost, around trees and plants to help maintain soil moisture and prevent weeds. Avoid runoff by creating a depression in the mulch or compost around the drip line of each plant.
Keep garden beds weed-free to avoid plant competition and excess water consumption.
Top dress your grass with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of compost to increase soil health. Healthier soil holds more water.
Bathe pets outside in areas where the grass needs watering.
Use a rainwater harvesting system or rain barrel to gather rainwater from your gutters. You may qualify for rebates from Austin Water.

Vehicles and Surfaces

Save hundreds of gallons of water by washing your vehicle at a commercial car wash that recycles water.
When washing your vehicle at home, use a bucket of soapy water and a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
Switch to a waterless cleaning product to wash your vehicle.
Use a broom rather than a hose to clean the driveway and sidewalk.

Water Toys

Don’t use water toys requiring a constant flow of water.
When children want to cool off by running through the sprinkler, place it on a dry area of grass.
Put children’s water toys on dry grass areas.

Pools

Avoid splashing, water fights, and diving to reduce water loss from splash-out.
Do a regular check for cracks and leaks. Using a grease pencil, mark the water level at the skimmer. Check the level 24 hours later. If the pool has lost more than 1/4 inch of water, there may be a leak.
Cover your pool when not in use to reduce evaporation and the need for chemicals. A cover will also keep debris out. Rebates for a new pool cover are available from Austin Water.
Prevent wind evaporation by surrounding the pool with shrubs or fences.
Reduce evaporation from heated pools by lowering the water temperature a few degrees.
Pools should only be refilled for water quality reasons. Maintaining proper chemical levels and circulation will decrease the number of times you have to drain the pool.
Reduce the amount of water splashed out by filling the pool a few inches lower than normal.
Prevent overfilling the pool when topping off by using a hose timer.
Inspect and maintain auto fillers.
Clean the pool with a pool vacuum that recycles water.
Backwash pool filters only when necessary. Instead, try doing it manually.

One of the most effective water conservation measures you can take is to have your irrigation system repaired and maintained to keep it at peak operating efficiency. South Austin Irrigation can provide custom scheduling, controller replacement and upgrades, system upgrades, leak detection and repairs and many other services to help you save money by saving water. Call us at (512) 534-7449 or fill out our online service request form.

Save Money by Saving Water

December 17, 2019 By Matt Sorenson

Most folks need to save money whenever they can, and we all need to conserve water. This is a good time of year to do both.

Wastewater averaging is performed by many Texas cities during the period of mid-November to mid-March, the time when there is a lower requirement for outdoor water use. The less you use your irrigation system during these four months, the lower your bill for the upcoming year will be.

There are a number of things you can do to conserve the water used for your irrigation system.

Leaks. Leaks in your irrigation system can not only cost you a bundle, they can also damage your lawn and garden. The signs of some leaks are easy to spot, and some aren’t. If you spot mold and mildew on your grass or if your plants are suffering fungus damage, the chances are that you have a leak. If your sprinkler shoots dirty water, that’s an indication that soil is making its way into the line from a hole or a loose or broken connection. If the grass in the areas above the water lines or around the sprinkler heads is much greener or taller, something’s not working right. If you notice soil deposited on the pavement, you could have a broken sprinkler head. There are other signs of a leak such as soggy spots in the lawn, low water pressure, and soil erosion near sprinkler heads. Apart from the impact leaks can have on your water bill, they can also create other unexpected costs. Unrepaired leaks can cause below-ground cavities and sinkholes that could compromise sidewalks and patios. Having your irrigation system checked for leaks and any needed repairs made is a wise investment.

Insulation. Insulating above-ground pipes and valves and insulating your backflow prevention device will help guard against water freezing and cracking or bursting the pipes or devices. Even though Texas winters are usually relatively mild, the temperatures still can dip below freezing.

Don’t Overwater. In winter, the grass will go dormant and much less water will be lost to evaporation. Even so, your lawn will need to be watered once or twice a month to stay healthy and to support new growth in the spring, and you will have to supply what the rain does not. Watering early in the day allows enough time for the soil to absorb the water before the nighttime temperature drops. Many system controllers have a “seasonal adjust” setting that you can use to adjust the watering schedule to shorter periods. This feature allows you to make “global” changes to your system, rather than having to reprogram it. Check your owner’s manual for instructions on how to use this feature.

Mulch. Don’t remove the twigs and dead leaves from the garden. A layer of organic or inorganic mulch in the garden will help hold in the warmth and the water to protect plant roots until spring.

Weather-Based Smart Controllers. A weather-based smart controller uses local weather information to regulate irrigation cycles. Some of the smart controllers use pre-programmed historic data, others use on-site real-time data, and still others upload the information from public sources.

Sensors. This might be a good time to invest in some sensors. A freeze sensor will prevent your irrigation system from turning on when the temperature reaches a pre-set level (usually 35oF) so that you’re not putting water onto a frozen surface where it will just sit (and freeze). Not only is that a waste of resources, but walking on a frozen lawn can damage it. A rain sensor will turn the irrigation system off after a specified amount of rain has fallen (some can be set to shut the system off as soon as it starts to rain). The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TEQC) requires that all new automated irrigation systems and any repairs requiring a replacement controller include an approved rain sensor. A soil moisture sensor measures the soil moisture content in the root zone. If the soil is already moist enough, it will prevent the irrigation system from running. It will also sense if the soil gets too dry and turn the cycle back on.

South Austin Irrigation can provide custom scheduling, controller replacement and upgrades, system upgrades, leak detection and repairs and many other services to help you save money by saving water. Call us at (512) 534-7449 or fill out our online service request form.

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