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Saving Water Outdoors
Don't over-water your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need to have watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer and each and every 10 to 14 days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the want for watering for as long as two weeks.
Water lawns in the course of the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.
Do not water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Position your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs ... not the paved areas.
Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each and every use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of water-efficient approaches of irrigation.
Regularly check sprinkler systems and timing devices to be positive they are operating appropriately. It is now the law that "anyone who purchases and installs an automatic lawn sprinkler system Must install a rain sensor device or switch which will override the irrigation cycle of the sprinkler method when adequate rainfall has occurred." To retrofit your existing method, contact an irrigation expert for alot more facts.
Raise the lawn mower blade to at least 3 inches. A lawn cut greater encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root method and holds soil moisture much better than a closely-clipped lawn.
Keep away from over-fertilizing your lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water. Apply fertilizers that contain slow-release, water-insoluble forms of nitrogen.
Retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also assists to control weeds that compete with pants for water.
Have native and drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. When established, they do not need to be watered as often and they usually will survive a dry period without any watering. Group plans together based on comparable water wants.
Do not hose down your driveway or sidewalk. Use a broom to clean leaves and other debris from these areas. Making use of a hose to clean a driveway can waste hundreds of gallons of water.
Outfit your hose with a shut-off nozzle that can be adjusted down to fine spray so that water flows only as required. When finished, "Turn it off" at the tap instead of at the nozzle to avoid leaks.
Use hose washers between spigots and water hoses to eradicate leaks.
Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your can pour out 600 gallons or even more in only a couple of hours, so do not leave the sprinkler running all day. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn it off.
Check all hoses, connectors and spigots frequently.
Give consideration to utilizing a commercial automobile wash that recycles water. If you wash your own automobile, park on the grass to do so.
Stay clear of the installation of ornamental water features (such as fountains) unless the water is recycled. Locate where there are mineral losses due to evaporation and wind drift.
If you have a swimming pool, take into consideration a new water-saving pool filter. A single back flushing with a conventional filter can use from 180 to 250 gallons or even more of water.
