Landscaping Water Conservation
You can design a landscape that not only conserves energy but also water. Here is
a brief overview of some water-conserving landscaping strategies.
Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is a systematic method of promoting water conservation in landscaped
areas. It's based on seven principles:
1. Planning and design
Provides direction and guidance, mapping your water and energy conservation
strategies, both of which will be dependent upon your regional climate and
microclimate.
2. Selecting and zoning plants appropriately
Bases your plant selections and locations on those that will flourish in your regional
climate and microclimate.
3. Limiting turf areas
Reduces the use of bluegrass turf, which usually requires a lot of supplemental
watering.
4. Improving the soil
Enables soil to better absorb water and to encourage deeper roots.
5. Irrigating efficiently
Encourages using the irrigation method that waters plants in each area most
efficiently.
6.Using mulches
Keeps plant roots cool, minimizes evaporation, prevents soil from crusting, and
reduces weed growth.
7. Maintaining the landscape
Keeps plants healthy through weeding, pruning, fertilizing, and controlling pests.
Xeriscaping is mostly used in arid regions, but its principles can be used in any
region to help conserve water.
Watering
If you can determine how much water your plants actually need, then you won't
overwater them and waste water. It is important to not only understand a plant's
particular watering requirements, but also evapotranspiration.
Evapotranspiration is the amount of water that is evaporated from the soil and
transpired through the plant's leaves. This amount of water needs to be replaced
through watering. If you know your area's Et rate, you can plan the amount of
water to be replaced through irrigation. Call your local water district or cooperative
extension service and ask about your Et rate. However, your particular microclimate
will also affect evapotranspiration in different areas of your yard.
Also, it's best to water or irrigate your plants in the early morning when evaporation
rates are low. This also provides plants with water before mid-day when the
evaporation rate is the highest.
You can design a landscape that not only conserves energy but also water. Here is
a brief overview of some water-conserving landscaping strategies.
Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is a systematic method of promoting water conservation in landscaped
areas. It's based on seven principles:
1. Planning and design
Provides direction and guidance, mapping your water and energy conservation
strategies, both of which will be dependent upon your regional climate and
microclimate.
2. Selecting and zoning plants appropriately
Bases your plant selections and locations on those that will flourish in your regional
climate and microclimate.
3. Limiting turf areas
Reduces the use of bluegrass turf, which usually requires a lot of supplemental
watering.
4. Improving the soil
Enables soil to better absorb water and to encourage deeper roots.
5. Irrigating efficiently
Encourages using the irrigation method that waters plants in each area most
efficiently.
6.Using mulches
Keeps plant roots cool, minimizes evaporation, prevents soil from crusting, and
reduces weed growth.
7. Maintaining the landscape
Keeps plants healthy through weeding, pruning, fertilizing, and controlling pests.
Xeriscaping is mostly used in arid regions, but its principles can be used in any
region to help conserve water.
Watering
If you can determine how much water your plants actually need, then you won't
overwater them and waste water. It is important to not only understand a plant's
particular watering requirements, but also evapotranspiration.
Evapotranspiration is the amount of water that is evaporated from the soil and
transpired through the plant's leaves. This amount of water needs to be replaced
through watering. If you know your area's Et rate, you can plan the amount of
water to be replaced through irrigation. Call your local water district or cooperative
extension service and ask about your Et rate. However, your particular microclimate
will also affect evapotranspiration in different areas of your yard.
Also, it's best to water or irrigate your plants in the early morning when evaporation
rates are low. This also provides plants with water before mid-day when the
evaporation rate is the highest.
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