When it comes to watering your yard, you may be able to save yourself some “green” -without your lawn turning brown-by using an automatic irrigation system. If that system is correctly designed, installed and maintained, it can keep your landscape looking lush using the least amount of water.
Here are a few more tips, from gardening expert Paul James, that may help:
• Waste not, want not-Instead of watering for one long continuous session, try splitting the watering time into shorter periods and take 15-minute breaks in between each session. This will let the water soak in, while minimizing runoff.
• Raise the blade-Trim grass at a higher mower setting to shade roots from sunlight and encourage deeper roots. Lawns with longer grass blades (2 inches) will retain more moisture and encourage deeper, healthier roots.
• Watch the clock-Water between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., when the sun is low, winds are calm and temperatures are cool. By watering in the morning, you give the leaves a chance to dry out during the day.
• Divide by zones-Different plants need different amounts of water. Divide your yard into separate...