7 Ways to Save Water and Keep a Lovely Garden

Water bills for the months of May and June were mailed out a few weeks ago, and you may have noticed a change. For some, it probably came as a bit of a shock to see a considerable increase in the cost.

The bill is now calculated with a tiered system making the cost per unit increase with use from $1.23 in the lowest tier up to $3.40 for the highest. 

Although some debate whether or not this system is fair, we do know that water is precious and limited. Either we start conserving now, or we face a much more serious water crisis in the future.

So what is a homeowner to do—especially those with mature and verdant landscapes? You may notice that around town some people are converting thirsty landscapes and lawns to more sustainable, low-water ones.

As a dyed-in-the-wool native plant advocate myself, I would certainly love to see more of this, but there are many ways to reduce water consumption without compromising the health of your plants—even if you choose to keep your existing landscaping.

In fact, wasteful and inappropriate irrigation practices are responsible for many landscape failures.

The first and most obvious thing you can do to conserve water is to make sure your irrigation system is functioning properly.

• 1. Check sprinkler heads often. This means walking around the yard and looking to see if any heads are missing or damaged.

• 2. Be observant about brown spots in the lawn, puddles in the garden and on the surrounding walks. If you notice this, then run the sprinklers to make sure the water is going where you want it. Next, periodically observe each zone as it runs to be sure your irrigation system is functioning properly.

• 3. Another obvious water-conserving practice is to master your irrigation controller. Many South Pasadena residents rely entirely upon automatic irrigation controllers to set the watering schedule. These controllers are only as smart as those running them. You need to know how to turn it off and how to program it. Again, obvious though it may seem, watering during a long, heavy rain storm is not helping your garden.

• 4. Less obvious is the fact that watering during Santa Ana winds is inefficient. Plants need to be hydrated before the winds arrive; that means the water should not be on top of the soil or evaporating from the air, but rather in the cells of the plant. Water thoroughly the day before hot temperatures and high winds are predicted.

• 5. It is wasteful—you may lose up to 30 percent of the water to evaporation—and against city code to water between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. In general, it is best to water early in the day. This allows plants to absorb water before it gets hot. Furthermore, since afternoons tend to be a bit breezy, less water is lost to evaporation during the still, morning hours. 

• 6. The last irrigation practice that I would like to discuss deals with how often and how long one should water. There is a misconception that short, frequent periods of water are best for lawns and other garden plants. In fact, plants prefer occasional but thorough watering.

• 7. In many cases, watering for no longer than 15 minutes—as required by our city code—does not provide enough deep moisture to develop strong, healthy roots (even for lawns). The best watering practice is to soak the soil several inches deep, and then refrain from watering until it has dried a bit and the plants look like they need a drink (but not drought-stressed). This way of watering encourages the development of deep, strong roots. 

Knowing how and when to water requires a bit of science, a bit of art and a lot of observation. Spend time in your garden to learn what your plants need. You will be surprised how much water you can save while still maintaining a lovely garden.

For more tips on summer water for California native plants, consult my garden blog, WildSuburbia. More information on irrigating turfgrass can be found at the following links:

Water Conservation Tips for the Home Lawn and Garden

Managing Turfgrasses During Drought

UC Guide to Healthy Lawns

California Turfgrass: Its Use, Water Requirement and Irrigation