Summer will be here before you know it — will your landscape be ready for California’s ongoing drought? By putting effort into your landscaping projects in early spring, you’ll help your trees, plants, and flowers survive a hot, dry summer.
We all need to do our part to conserve water and use it as efficiently as possible—and make this our way of life. Here are some tips and tricks to help you successfully maintain a beautiful, water-wise yard all year long!
Prepping Your Garden for a Drought
Believe it or not, you can help your yard thrive in the drought that we’re immersed in by following a few basic practices:
- Begin training your garden in the spring by watering deeply and as infrequently as possible.
- Install a drip system to save water.
- Plant California native drought-tolerant plants to save 30 to 60 gallons for 1,000 square feet each time you water. They are beautiful and require little to no water. Follow @SaveOurWater on social media where we will be highlighting water-wise plants.
- Use mulch to help the soil retain more moisture.
While you are adjusting your outdoor watering habits, it is important to remember to give special care to your trees. Trees help keep our neighborhoods beautiful and healthy and it takes decades to replace a tree that dies.
So it’s OK to use the appropriate amount of water to keep your trees healthy and alive during our current drought. To learn how to keep your trees growing and thriving throughout the drought, visit our tree care package or re-leaf organization.
Adjust Watering Schedule to Use Only What You Need
California’s warm and dry summers require some water use to keep lawns healthy and trees alive. Check with your local water agency to see which days you are allowed to water. A healthy lawn will only need water twice a week in the warmer and drier months.
Trees and shrubs require watering less frequently but for longer run times. Because of this, shrubs and trees should always be in separate zones from the turf within your irrigation system. It’s important to only use what you need: watering should be done in a way that maximizes absorption and minimizes runoff.
Here are some more irrigation tips to keep in mind as you adjust your watering schedule for the summer:
- Water early in the morning so that your grass and plants have a chance to absorb the moisture before it evaporates under the hot sun.
- Avoid watering when it is windy.
- Adjust your sprinklers. Install a smart controller to make automatic adjustments.
- Summer can be a dry time, so make sure you water regularly.
- Replace any sprinklers that create a fine mist, which will cause water to be lost to evaporation and overspray.
- Regularly do a quick test run of your irrigation system during the day so you can check for leaks. A small leak can waste 12 to 15 gallons each time you water.
Stay in touch with @SaveOurWater on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more pointers on keeping your landscape happy and healthy during the summer heat.
