Eco-Friendly Ways To Save Water


Homeowners are more conscious than ever about saving water, and there are a variety of eco-friendly ways to save water. Water-saving measures don’t mean you have to resign yourself to brown lawns and withered gardens though. Here are some organic water-saving tips to help keep your lawn green this summer.

Install Underground Sprinklers
Many portable water sprinkler options lose water to the air, the water never reaches the soil, are left to run too long or are poorly placed. With inground sprinklers, water is delivered right to where plants need it most. Advanced timers and water gauges help you know exactly when you need to water, and how much water to deliver.

Whether your priority is your lawn or gardens or both, inground sprinklers can be placed in zones to correspond with the water-needs of the plant varieties in that part of your yard, the amount of shade, and account for depressions and lower lying areas.

Plant Diversity
Plants native to more southern regions often require more water than native species and are less resistant to drought. Rye and fescue grasses use less water than the popular Kentucky blue grass for instance. The same goes for your gardens.

Home owners are increasingly diversifying their yard based on their family’s needs. Rock gardens, mulch, and other alternatives are able to conserve more water than lawn. Consider planting a deciduous tree to provide shade on the hottest days. The plants in the shade will use less water and the tree lowers carbon emissions.

Rain Barrels
Rain barrels provide an easy way to collect water for non-potable use such as gardens and lawns. A barrel placed in the middle of your hard will collect little water, but placing it beneath the downspout from your roof can fill a 55 gallon barrel in a single storm (based on an average roof size).

Don’t Drain That Water
Cooking with water? Instead of pouring the boiling water down the drain, why not pour it out on unwanted weeds in your sidewalk or pathway? Instead of straining the water you used to cook potatoes or other vegetables down the drain, why not cool it and put those nutrients into your garden? Next time you clean out your fish tank, siphon the water into a pail and water your gardens with the nitrogen rich waste.

Choosing The Right Pot
Container gardening is increasingly popular, as well as upcycling rain gutters and other materials for container and vertical gardens. Keep in mind that unglazed clay pots (like terracotta) will lose moisture quickly requiring additional watering. That rain gutter container garden is made of metal and will heat up in the summer drying out the soil.

Experts agree that the best time of day to water your lawn or garden is early in the morning to avoid evaporation and prevent mildew. However, container plants do much better if watered in the hottest part of the day. The soil used in containers is designed to retain moisture, but it quickly dries out in the heat.

Contact Nutri-Lawn Burlington for your irrigation system installation and to learn more ways to save water this season. Whether you want to help the environment or save money, there are effective irrigation options to suit your unique needs and budget.