With warmer weather fast approaching, it’s time for Texas homeowners to start thinking about this season’s lawn care. If you want consistently green grass, irrigation is a necessary aspect of lawn care. But you certainly don’t want to waste water, and if there is a drought or water shortage in your area the amount of water available for your lawn will be limited. The good news for those who love a green lawn is that there are several ways to conserve water while still maintaining a green lawn.
Soaker Hoses
Soaker hoses are highly water efficient lawn equipment. Water is supplied directly to the soil through small holes in the hose. When watering with a soaker hose, water pressure should be kept lower than when using a regular hose, to let the water gradually soak into the soil.
By supplying water directly to the soil, you can greatly reduce water loss through evaporation. It also reduces the risk of disease or fungus developing from water sitting on grass leaves. However, if you want to water an entire yard, a soaker hose will have to be moved several times. Soaker hoses do not cover as much area as sprinklers, only about two to three feet on either side of the hose. Still, the extra work can be worth it when you are trying to conserve water.
Watering With Sprinklers
Sprinklers and sprinkler hoses are less water efficient than soaker hoses, but there are still ways to conserve water while using a sprinkler system. You might want to use sprinklers if they are already installed in your yard, or you cannot afford the time it takes to move soaker hoses around the yard.
To water efficiently with a sprinkler, water early in the morning to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation and eliminate the problem of dampness causing disease or fungus. Watering deeply will keep the soil moist for a longer period of time between watering. When watering with sprinklers, make sure the water isn’t running off the surface of the lawn. If you have run-off, turn the sprinklers off for a while to let the water soak into the soil before you finish watering.
Other Ways to Save Water
In addition to making efficient use of available water, there are some other lawn care tips you can use to keep your yard healthy and green. Maintaining the grass at a higher height, but still mowing on a regular basis, will help the plants survive in low-water conditions. Keeping the mower blades sharp will also help because the grass will be less stressed.
For a very green lawn, you will need to fertilize and water throughout the summer. But if you don’t mind having a lawn that looks a little dryer, you can fertilize and water less. The grass will stay healthy, but will not grow as quickly and requires less water.
For those looking to maintain a green and healthy lawn, there are several steps you can take to conserve water while continuing to irrigate your lawn. Using soaker hoses or making sure your sprinklers are watering efficiently will help reduce the amount of water used on the lawn. Lawn care tasks like careful fertilization and proper mowing will also help reduce the amount of water needed for a healthy lawn.
