AA-WATER CONSERVATION IDEAS FOR YARDS
Check your water meter and bill to track your water usage.
Place an empty tuna can on your lawn to catch and measure the water output of your sprinklers. For lawn watering advice, contact your local conservation office.
For indoor plants Capture tap water. While you wait for hot water to come down the pipes, catch the flow in a watering can to use later on house plants or your garden. Saves 200 to 300 gallons per month.
Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption every time you water.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time.
Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.
Collect rain water in a rain barrel for your lawn and plants.
Use the sprinkler for larger areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
Group plants with the same watering needs together to get the most out of your watering time.
While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed. Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant for year-round landscape color and save up to 550 gallons each year.
Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass shades root systems and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn.
Direct downspouts and other runoff towards shrubs and trees, or collect and use for your garden.
Use porous materials for walkways and patios to keep water in your yard and prevent wasteful runoff.
