Use less water while enjoying a lush, colorful garden filled with your landscape favorites.
Water in the early morning to reduce evaporation
Water between the hours of 4am and 8am. By doing so, this will cut evaporation, saving you money and conserving water.
Switch from overhead sprinklers to soaker hoses
Soaker hoses conserve water by dripping water right to the roots of the plant.
Adjust timers on automatic sprinklers
Most sprinklers are programmed to water too often. Set your timer to water longer (approximately 20 minutes) once a week. If plants show signs of stress such as wilting or yellowing add a second watering each week.
Use water wands with a trigger
When watering container gardens, hanging baskets or other small areas use a water wand with a trigger. This allows you to water only the plants and not the pavement or ground between plants. Make sure to water each plant thoroughly so water penetrates to the root system.
Reduce lawn watering
Most homeowners water their lawns too much. Reduce your total watering by as much as 50% - your lawn will be healthier and just as lush and green. This may mean skipping one lawn watering each week. Never restart the entire automatic watering cycle to water a dry patch - select the appropriate station and run manually. Mulch to conserve soil moisture
Using mulch in your garden reduces weed germination, retains moisture and reduces the need for watering. Armstrong Garden Centers carry a wide selection of organic mulches that vary in color and texture to match any landscape.
Don't over-fertilize
Plants (or lawns) that are over-fed need more water to support the new growth. Follow the directions for each type of fertilizer - do not exceed suggested amounts or frequency of application. Consider timed-release plant foods or organics which release a steady amount of nutrients. Adjust watering seasonally
Adjust the time and frequency of automatic sprinklers seasonally. Turn automatic sprinkler system off during rainy periods. Artificial grass
Forget about adjusting sprinklers and watering all together with artificial grass. It’s incredibly lifelike, but virtually maintenance-free. Have it professionally installed or do-it-yourself. | Plant Type | Time to Water | Small Shrubs
(4 feet or less in height) | One minute/5 gallons | Large Shrubs
(4 feet or taller) | Increase watering time by 15 seconds for each foot of height | | Trees | Apply 2 gallons for every inch of trunk diameter (measure 4.5 feet above the ground) | | Flowers | 5 Gallons of water per 10 square feet/1 minute at medium pressure |
Water Rebates
Various water agencies are offering rebates for water-wise products such as Cyber-Rain Smart Controller and artificial grass. see rebates by water agency Related Articles: Armstrong Garden Centers Environmental Commitment Mulch |
