Everyone should take inspiration from the costly water bills, drought, and water restrictions to find a way of reducing water consumption.
There are several methods that landlords and tenants can consider if they would like to save water.
To save water, here are a few tips to consider:
1. Water Wisely
This starts with buying plants that match your conditions, including plenty of native plants and those suited for your average rainfall and high and low temperatures. Next, prepare the soil or potting mix (if growing in a container). Remember that even low-water or xeric plants need a little more water their first year of life to establish roots. Then, water deeply and slowly but less often. Drip systems work best for this and lose less water to evaporation than do sprinklers. Water in the morning when possible, not in peak heat.
2. Learn Signs of Overwatering
When a plant wilts, we assume it needs water. Sometimes, it is over-watered. You can use a meter to test the soil, but you also can push your finger down about an inch or so below the soil line and see if the soil is moist. If it is, you usually can wait to water. Standing water in a planter’s tray or near a plant also can mean over-watering.
3. Choose Perennials
Perennial plants live all year in your climate, even if they drop leaves in winter. Perennials cost more initially than do annuals (plants that only stay alive one summer or season). Your perennial, especially a native variety, will only need extra water that first year. After that, it can need nothing but rain or a little watering.
4. Capture Rainwater
You can collect up to 550 gallons of rainwater for every 1000 square feet of roof surface per inch of rain! A cistern is ideal for holding the most rainfall, but is more expensive than a rain barrel. Use barrels to supplement spring and peak summer heat watering. Just use caution when watering edible plants; safety depends on your type of roof, collection and whether you include a way to flush nasty stuff out each time the barrel fills.
5. Use Smart Controllers
If you’re at home during the day, you can turn off drip systems from your house or rain barrel during or after rain. You would be amazed at the selection simple water timers, programmable watering systems, or systems managed using smart controllers with apps for sprinklers, rain barrels and drip systems. You can override a watering schedule on your phone from work or a trip. Some systems apply historical weather data for your area to manage watering. Solar-powered systems can control drip hoses for containers on decks or patios.
Landscaping Tips
Ensure inspection of the existing sprinkler systems Unless you inspect the existing systems, you may never know what has happened to them.
After inspection, replace any broken hardware, repair leaks, and adjust the systems so that water gets to the landscape.
You do not have to water the grass more than twice every week. However, make sure the watering is deep so that deeper roots will develop. Such deeper roots can resist drought.
Mow the plant at the ideal height
Make sure that you mow the lawn to about 1/3 of its original height. Allow the clippings of grass to decompose and nourish the soil. Remove the weeds If you do not want to deprive the grass of essential nutrients and water, make sure that you remove the weeds. Remove the debris around the trees, grass, and shrubs. Then add mulch to the soil. Start spreading the mulch at about 4 to 6 inches away from the trunk and spread till it reaches the external part of the canopy. Use soaker hoses Another important tip for renters is to save water by using soaker hoses for sprinkling water on the landscape. Renters can also regulate sprinkling by installing battery-operated timer at the spigot. Utilize compost Adding different inches of compost can be of great advantages to tenants as they can save water and beautify the garden. After digging composts into your garden, you can grow vegetables or fruits there.