July is Smart Irrigation Month, a nationwide initiative led by the Irrigation Association that encourages homeowners, businesses, and communities to use water more efficiently outdoors. With summer temperatures in full swing and outdoor water use at its peak, now is the perfect time to take a closer look at how you water your lawn and landscape.
Here are a few tips on how you can reduce utility costs and conserve water while supporting healthy lawns, plants, and trees.
Start with a sprinkler checkup: If you have an automatic sprinkler system, consider performing a system audit. Check for leaks, broken sprinkler heads and uneven water patterns. If you notice overspray on sidewalks, driveways, or streets, or see excessive misting while watering, you may have an inefficient irrigation system.
Check your coverage patterns as well to be sure water is going exactly where you want and be sure your system is programmed for the city’s current drought restrictions. To maximize savings, you could also keep your system OFF and only run it manually when you need to or on your watering day.
For a complete irrigation system checklist, visit CityofKyle.gov/waterconservation.
Water smarter: More isn’t always better when it comes to watering your lawn. Overwatering can lead to shallow root systems, weed growth, disease and fungus. Instead, water deeply enough to reach the root zone, then wait until the soil begins to dry before watering again. If the grass springs back after you step on it, it likely has enough moisture.
Another way to water smart is by doing it during the coolest parts of the day, which is typically between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. Watering during hot or windy conditions can result in significant water loss through evaporation.
Slow the flow: One of the biggest causes of water waste is watering too quickly. If your sprinkler runs for 20 minutes straight, much of that water may run off before it has a chance to soak into the soil. Instead, try dividing watering into shorter cycles. Run sprinklers for four 5-minute sessions with breaks in between. This allows water to penetrate deeper into the ground and reduces runoff.
Consider smart technology: If able, consider smart irrigation controllers that adjust watering schedules based on weather conditions, soil moisture, and plant needs. These systems can help maintain healthy landscapes while reducing unnecessary water use.
Another option to consider is a rain shut-off device. This inexpensive addition can prevent sprinklers from operating during or after rainfall.
Divide and conquer: Not all plants have the same watering needs. Create separate irrigation zones for different types of plants and group plants with similar water requirements together. Consider using drip irrigation for trees, shrubs, and landscape beds. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to a plants roots, reducing evaporation and runoff while promoting healthier growth.
Embrace the summer blonde: If your lawn is looking a little bleached, that doesn’t mean it’s dead. Try the “tug test” to find out if it’s dormant or dead — grab a handful of brown grass blades and give them a gentle pull. If the grass resists and stays firmly anchored to the ground, the roots are alive and the plant is dormant. If the turf lifts out of the ground easily, often with the roots attached, and provides no resistance, the grass is dead.
If your lawn does go dormant (or shows off its summer blonde) as the heat stretches into the fall, remember that under Texas Property Code §202.008, HOA’s generally cannot fine homeowners for brown or discolored turf during residential watering restrictions when those conditions could reasonable result from limited watering.
Finally, remember that the city of Kyle currently offers rebates for rain barrels, turf grass replacement and low-flow devices. Learn more at CityofKyle.gov/rebates.
