Five Irrigation Hacks to Help You Conserve Water

The grass is not always greener on the other side, especially when temperatures are approaching nearly 100 degrees.

Rising temperatures can be tough on any yard and can become costly.  It’s no wonder why people see a jump in water usage over the summer months. However, with the right care and tools, you may be able to save your grass and conserve water at the same time. Check out these five conservation tips:

1. Cycle and Soak – Cycle and soak is a known method that allows you to apply water in short cycles instead of applying it all at once. Most irrigation controllers have the ability to set the cycle and soak configuration.
2. Judge Irrigation Requirements in the Morning – The early bird gets the worm. In this case, it’s the water. High afternoon temperatures can cause plants to wilt, look off-color, drop leaves or shrink, even if there is moisture in the soil. When the sun sets, your yard can look normal. Irrigation will only be required if your lawn looks wilted and off-color in the morning. To double-check the moisture in the soil, you can do the screwdriver test by pushing a screwdriver into the soil to see how much moisture is present. The screwdriver will push easily into moist soil and will be more difficult in dry soil.
3. Mow Your Lawn Higher – A taller lawn shades the soil, which in turn reduces evaporation and encourages longer roots. By moving the mower cutting height up one or two settings, you can keep your soil moist a little longer.
4. Mulch All Planted Areas – Mulch keeps the soil moist. It slows evaporation of water from the soil, allows water to infiltrate the soil efficiently, moderates the soil temperature and breaks down into nutrients for the plants. Maintain a 2 to 4-inch layer in all planted beds and containers.
5. Look at Your Irrigation System – If you need help with your irrigation system, the City offers a voluntary water conservation program, called the W.I.S.E. Guys, designed to help you understand how to run your irrigation system more efficiently. You can even apply for a rebate of up to $200 if you make any repairs. To get started, all you have to do is fill out the signup form. A licensed irrigator will set up an appointment with you and perform an evaluation on your sprinkler system with you.

To learn more about the City’s water conservation programs, click here.