CONSERVATION CORNER
SUMMER SHOWERS, WATERING SCHEDULES, AND
OTHER TIPS FOR CONSERVING WATER OUTDOORS
It's now late July, and August is almost upon
us. This is the time of year when we get an occasional thundershower.
If luck is with us and it does rain, remember to reset your
irrigation timers. Light showers may allow you to skip an
even/odd cycle or two. Heavier showers may allow you to turn
off your timer for a week or more. Don't pass up an opportunity
to take advantage of wet summer weather!
The following are additional tips for conserving
water outdoors.
- Avoid watering in windy conditions. Wind can drastically
change sprinkler coverage.
- When designing an irrigation system, remember to use
sprinklers on groundcover (turf and alternatives) only.
Widely spaced plants should be watered by emitters, which
focus water on individual plants.
- Mulches contribute most toward conserving water during
the hot summer months. If you have exposed soil in your
yard, now is the time to mulch it!
- Many Xeriscape plants require no irrigation after the
first of summer. The sooner you invest in low water use
plants, the quicker you can reduce your water use.
- Do not select the length of watering times by drawing
numbers out of a hat (or head)! Experiment with your irrigation
system. Run each station (or hose) the shortest time that
meets the needs of your plants.
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