Happier Lawns With Less Water
The water we use every day is a valuable resource. In the United States, the average household uses 320 gallons of water per day, and 30% of that water goes to outdoor uses, like watering lawns and gardens. Nationwide, landscape irrigation totals nearly 9 billion gallons per day.
That’s a lot of water. The troubling news is that some experts estimate that as much as 50% of this irrigation water is wasted. This is due to evaporation, wind, or runoff. That’s 4.5 billion gallons of water being paid for but not benefitting anyone.
Closer to home, Utah is a drier, warmer climate. This means that even more of the water we use outside can go to watering our lawns and can be wasted. This costs you money, and contributes to drought problems. Here are some ideas to help you more efficiently use water for your lawn.
1. Watch What You Water While your grass and garden appreciate the water your sprinklers provide, your driveway, deck, sidewalks, and vinyl fence don’t. Water doesn’t damage a vinyl deck or fence, of course, but any water that lands on the driveway, fence, deck, or sidewalk is wasted. So check where your sprinklers are spraying. Adjust the location of sprinklers if necessary, and take the time to use a hand sprinkler on certain areas if needed (for example, a small patch of grass that is isolated from the rest of the system by a cement walkway.).
2. Plan What You Plant Different plants thrive in different locations, in part due to the amount of water they can get. So while Kentucky bluegrass may make a beautiful lawn, it might not be the best choice in Utah. It needs approximately 1.2 inches of water per week to stay green and growing, while Buffalo grass, another common type of grass, only needs 0.3 inches of water per week to grow and remain green. Take the time to buy grass that matches the climate. Another way to decrease water use is to go native. Plant flowers and grasses that are found in the wild in your area. These plants are used to surviving off of just the rainfall in Utah, so they will thrive with only a little attention from you.
3. Think About Time The best time to water a lawn is early in the morning, from about 6-8 am. Normally, there is less chance of the wind interrupting, the water won’t be lost to the atmosphere (evaporation) and the water pressure is the highest. Definitely avoid watering in full sunlight and during windy conditions, since the tiny water droplets from a sprinkler will have a difficult time even reaching your lawn in those conditions.
4. Listen to Your Lawn Another common cause of lost water is watering too frequently. The soil and the plants need time to absorb the water. Even 1/2 inch of water is enough for some soil types to become saturated. When soil is saturated, runoff occurs. Watering every day, especially if your lawn is comprised of native plants, might be overkill. Watching for signs of dehydration, like rolled leaves or foot prints that last for hours (healthy water filled plants spring back after being stepped on; dried out plants don’t.) Invest in a EPA WaterSense approved irrigation controller that adjusts the watering schedule based on local weather conditions.
Saving water doesn’t mean letting your lawn go brown. Being sensible about your water use and choice of plants will create a beautiful lawn for your vinyl fence in Utah to complement all spring and summer long.