Water conservation is not only an important consideration for our general environment, but it is important for the health and prosperity of your lawn as well. Even when we’re not experiencing a drought in Colorado (anyone been outside recently?) we should be seeking to conserve water. Whether your area is currently experiencing a drought or lush and green, follow these tips to preserve water and moisture without the need to sacrifice your lawn.
1. Mulching
Mulching is a fantastic way to make sure that the sun or dry air doesn’t rob moisture from your grass or soil. To help you conserve water, mulch will create a barrier between the soil and the sunlight that will help to seal in moisture. This way you can be sure that after your soil has been watered, the sun and atmosphere won’t immediately reclaim the water. Fortunately, it is pretty easy and affordable to mulch areas of your property and it will help you save a lot of water… and money.
2. Mind the Time
Too many homeowners don’t understand how to properly use their sprinklers and as a result they waste a lot of water. In short: You want to be sure that you avoid watering your lawn during the day. When the sun is shining bright, you’re wasting water to evaporation.
However, it is less than ideal to water your lawn at night. When you water at night leaves, wood, and other detritus in your yard will likely remain damp until the sun comes up. In turn, this will create the perfect breeding ground for destructive insects and fungi.
Instead, the best time to water is in the early morning. Watering between 5:00 and 10:00am will allow your lawn enough time to absorb moisture before the hottest parts of the day. Furthermore, wood, leaves, and detritus will have time to dry out over the course of the day to prevent fungus and insect infestation.
3. Don’t Water Your Lawn too much at One Time
Yet another mistake people often make is watering their lawn for long periods of time instead of breaking the watering up into smaller intervals. By watering your lawn all at once, it becomes challenging for the soil to absorb all of the moisture. Instead of being absorbed by the soil, the water can run off into the street or to areas where there is no plant life. Imagine trying to drink all you needed for a day or two in one sitting. That’s what you’re doing to your lawn!
Water for long periods of time is incredibly wasteful but easily solved. Instead, try watering your lawn in increments with a 15–20 minute break in between to allow your lawn to absorb the moisture.
4. Know What You Are Watering
To avoid wasting water, make sure you’re only watering what needs it. Sounds simple enough, but it’s easy enough to forget. For example, some misplaced or inefficient sprinkler systems might border a sidewalk or road. In the event that your sprinkler system is watering the concrete, you are wasting a lot of water that could have been better spent nourishing your plants.
Droughts are serious stuff, and while it may be wet and green here in Colorado now, we’re no stranger to dry times. Either way, every bit of water that’s conserved—during a drought or not—helps. Remember these tips as we roll into summer!
