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Water in the morning. Watering early means
you will lose less water to evaporation and wind. Watering in
the heat of the day or the evening can also lead to plant damage
through "leaf burn" and fungal infection.
Don't over water. If you apply too much
water too fast, it won't be absorbed and water is wasted as run-off.
It is better to water in short intervals with a 15 minute break
between each interval to allow the water to soak in.
Use Mulch. Mulch provides a layer of protection
that reduces evaporation and keeps the soil moist.
Don't mow too low. Your lawn should be
kept at a height so that it provides shade for the roots. Unshaded
roots will ultimately require more watering to keep the lawn from
drying out quickly.
Use an automatic irrigation system. An
irrigation system will deliver water for preset timed intervals.
This will eliminate over and under watering problems. Using a
timer with a rain sensor will also prevent waste by watering when
it has recently rained.
Divide your yard in to zones. Don't let
one sprinkler zone include too many different garden elements.
Your lawn needs more water than your cactus garden, so it makes
sense to put them in different zones. Divide your sprinkler zones
to take into account how long and how much they should be watered.
Use the right type of sprinkler. Drip
irrigation is a very efficient way to deliver water to plants
and trees, but it doesn't work for lawns. One big sprinkler in
the center of the lawn usually won't work as well as four sprinklers
spraying in from the corners. Choose the sprinklers carefully
to maximize coverage with a minimum of water.
Don't water the sidewalk. Overspray from
your sprinklers is a waste of water. Adjust your sprinklers to
properly cover the yard. Also, fine mists tend to evaporate more
quickly; large droplets of water are better. (Some plants need
a mist, and so continue to use a mist for those plants).
Inspect your sprinklers. Periodically
inspect your sprinkler system while in operation to check for
broken pipes, sprinkler heads or other problems.
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