Seven Ways to Save Water in Your Yard This Summer.
With gardening season in full swing and in some places the weather is getting so hot that your plants will wilt if you don’t water them, you may notice an increase in your water bills. And sure, you can choose native, drought-tolerant plants for your yards and gardens to save water, but you don’t have to tear up your landscape to reduce your water bill. Instead, try some smart watering techniques.
Use a smart hose timer
One way to cut down on watering costs is to set a timer so the hose can turn on at the optimal time of day and scheduled time. Using a smart hose timer allows you to set the timing of your sprinkler or other watering system. Many also have the option to delay the watering schedule in case of rain to prevent double watering. You can use the smart hose timing that connects to the app to track your watering history and adjust it to save water whenever you want.
Water at the right time of day
Watering your garden or lawn in the middle of the day can cause much of the water you use to evaporate before it reaches your plants. Watering early in the morning, before the sun rises, or late in the evening after the sun sets, can save you water by ensuring that more water from the hose reaches your plants.
Consider Drip Irrigation
Because a sprinkler shoots droplets of water into the air before they hit your plants, they can use more water than a drip irrigation system or submersible hose , which sits on the ground and shoots water directly onto the soil. A drip system also allows you to more precisely plan where you want to water, so if you have plants that need a lot of moisture, you can add a drip line or soaker hose in those exact spots.
Mulch the beds
To keep more moisture closer to the soil and slow down the evaporation process, allowing more water to reach plant roots, add some mulch to the surface of your beds. For mulching, you can use grass clippings or leaves, which are free, or you can choose wood mulch instead. Sometimes you can also get free wood chips from Chip Drop to spread in your garden, but keep in mind that you’ll end up with quite a large volume of wood chips, so plan ahead if you go this route.
Channel rainwater
Rain is the cheapest of all irrigation methods. If you have downspouts that direct water away from your foundation when it rains, you can add a downspout extension to direct rainwater runoff to your beds or to specific plants that need more moisture. You can also add a rain barrel with a downspout switch if they are allowed in your area, but be sure to check your local rainwater harvesting ordinances before installing.
Use gray water
While you can install a gray water recirculation system in a bathroom or laundry drain to recycle water that was used for laundry, this requires adding plumbing and can sometimes be expensive, depending on the complexity of the project. An easier way to reuse water is to use a basin when washing dishes and then use it to water pots. If your washing machine drains water into the sink drain through a hose rather than into a closed pipe, you can add a water collection tank to the washing machine, allowing you to reuse the water for your plants after it has been used for washing. In general, you should be careful not to use water with too much food waste, especially salt, meat or dairy, to avoid causing problems for your plants.
Perform Preventative Maintenance
Regularly check the connections of the hoses you use for watering, as well as any underground lines, for leaks. To check for leaks, look for areas with excessive moisture, especially when your sprinklers and valves are turned off. You can look for puddles or muddy areas that don’t improve in dry conditions elsewhere, as well as loose spots in your lawn. Replace hose valves if you notice water leaking through them when they are turned off to prevent water loss due to leaky connections.