Water Bills Going Up? 

Try These Tips For Saving Water Around The Yard & Garden

Lawn:

• Sprinklers are the least efficient way to irrigate. If sprinklers are your only choice try to water early in the morning when it's usually not too hot or windy. Check frequently for run-off.

• Cut down on watering your lawn during summer droughts. No matter how much water you put on it, it won't really green back up until cooler weather .

• Mow at a higher setting during dry spells, try leaving the clippings on the lawn to act as a mulch.

• Remove turf from slopes and other hard to water areas, and replace with a drought tolerant groundcover.

• Plan a water-wise landscape by reducing turf area.  Replace the turf with mulch walkways or groundcovers.

Flowers, Shrubs, and Trees:

• Plant perennials and woody plants in early spring or fall.  They'll most likely need less water during this time.

• Use plastic pots instead of porous clay for container plantings; plastic pots dry out more slowly.

• Keep container plants from drying so quickly by putting them into a larger pot. Fill the space in between the pots with peat moss to keep roots cool and moist.

• Keep plants well mulched.  Mulch helps hold in moisture and keep roots cool.  Another benefit of mulch is it helps reduce weed growth.

• Watch for run-off when watering your flowers, shrubs and trees.  Water going down the drain or into the concrete driveway is a waste of money.

• Water before wilting is noticed.  Wilting only stresses the plant, reducing growth and flowering.

• Try a product called Soil Moist®.  It's crystals when blended with your soil with help hold in water longer.  Especially helpful for container gardening.

• When planting trees or shrubs dig the hole about twice the size of the plants root ball.  Work in about an inch of organic matter over the planting area. 

• Make a 'basin' around the planting area.  This will help hold catch and hold in extra water for the fine roots of new plantings.

Vegetable Garden:

• When preparing your vegetable garden, work in a 1-2 inch layer of organic matter into the top 6-8 inches of soil.

• Look for early-maturing vegetable cultivars that will ripen before the summer heat.

• Plant seeds and seedlings into well-prepared soil as soon as possible in spring so they'll be established while the weather is still cool, and the need for watering less.

• Shade new transplants with newspaper, cardboard, or screening for the first week to prevent wilting.

• Mulch.  Mulch is very important in the vegetable garden for weed control as well as keeping the moisture in and the roots cool.

Drought Tolerant Plants to Consider: