Summer Water-Saving Tips for Your Property

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We all know that in the summer months, municipal water use doubles! It’s the season when Canadians are outdoors watering lawns and gardens, filling swimming pools and washing their cars. Summer peak water demand places stress on municipal water systems, as a result, increasing costs for tax payers and water users. When water supplies diminish during periods of little rainfall, some municipalities have to declare restrictions on lawn watering. Here are some handy tips so that your lawn and garden can survive drought conditions and so that you can minimize water wastage!

General Tips

The summer peak demand is mostly attributed to lawn and garden watering. Water is usually applied inefficiently,therefore a lot wastage results from over watering, evaporation or run-off.

Tips to help avoid wastage:

Before watering, check the amount of water Mother Nature has supplied to your lawn or garden in the past week. Leave a measuring container in the yard to monitor the amount of rainfall each week to help determine how much water to add.
Water in the early morning to reduce evaporation and scorching of leaves from the sun. Also water on calm days to prevent wind drift.
Set up your sprinkler to avoid watering driveways and patios. That’s just water and money down the drain!
Water slowly to avoid run-off and to ensure the soil
Regularly check your hose for leaks.
It is a smart idea to collect rainwater from your roof in a rain barrel or large container and keep it covered with an insect screen. Direct the down spout of your gutters into the rain barrel.
Choose an efficient irrigation system. A soaker hose at the base of plants applies water to the soil where it is needed and reduces evaporation and scorching the leaves. Drip or trickle irrigation systems are efficient because they deliver water slowly to the roots under the soil, promoting deeper roots, which improve drought resiliency. If you use a sprinkler, choose one with a timer and that sprays near the ground.

Tips for Your Lawn:

Established lawns require about 2.5 cm (1 in.) of water per week to thrive. If there is enough rainfall, your lawn will thrive without additionalwatering. When nature does not provide enough moisture, your grass will start to turn brown (meaning it is dormant — not dead!) After enough rainfall returns, your lawn will resume its green appearance.

Apply about 2.5 cm (1 in.) of water not more than once per week and skip a week after rainfall.
Water Deep watering at this rate is more efficient than frequent, shallow watering because it encourages deep roots.
Don’t over water! When your lawn is waterlogged, it may turn yellow and develop fungus and fertilizer leaching.
Avoid mowing when the lawn is dry or dormant.
Don’t cut your lawn too short. You want the roots shaded and better able to hold water.
Aerate your lawn once a year in the early spring or fall to improve water
A thick, vigorous lawn is the best prevention against weed invasions and can better withstand heat and dryness.

Tips for Flower Gardens:

Direct water to the roots. With trees and shrubs, the roots that take up the most water are usually within the top 30 cm of the soil.
Water perennials and vines well in the first growing season after planting. Water with a one-hour trickle once per week using a soaker hose for the first three weeks and subsequently during hot dry weather. Afterwards, perennials should need little or no additionalwater
Apply a layer of mulch about 5 to 7.5 cmdeep over the soil surface of the garden to retain moisture, moderate the temperature, control erosion and keep weeds at bay. Wood chips, bark and crushed rock are alternative options.
Use a soaker hose near the base of plants, rather than a sprinkler. This ensures the water is applied to the soil and roots, rather than the leaves and reduces evaporation.
Grass under a tree competes with the treeroots for water. Remove the lawn and place mulch instead to retain water!
Group plants with similar water needs to make watering more efficient (i.e. shrubs and perennials should be grouped together in mulched beds)
Amend the soil by adding compost or organic materials.

Other Outdoor Activities

Lawn and garden watering is only part of summer peak demand. You can lower your water bill and lessen the burden on municipal water supplies by doing the following: