How to Use Good Watering Practices in Utah
Did you know there are ways to decrease your water usage without drying out your lawn? Many people are concerned about how much water they’re using to irrigate their property. Luckily, there are many small steps you can take to decrease your water usage and simultaneously reduce your water bill. If you’re looking for ways to use less water on your property, here are some ideas to help you!
Get a Smart Controller
One of the best things you can do for your lawn and for the environment is to invest in a smart controller. A smart controller has the ability to adjust watering frequency and duration based on weather conditions, humidity, and soil moisture. Have you ever seen a home with its sprinklers on during a rainstorm? This happens when a traditional irrigation system has a set schedule regardless of the current weather. This leads to wasted water, and an overwatered lawn.
One of the best perks of buying a smart controller in Utah is that the state will actually reimburse up to $75 of the cost! The government wants you to reduce your water usage, so they’re willing to help you make the jump from a traditional to a smart controller. It benefits both you and your local government. It’s a win-win!
Fertilize and Aerate
Healthy grass and soil typically require less watering. One way to maintain good soil structure is to aerate! The best time to aerate is right before summer. During the summer in Utah, your lawn isn’t waterlogged from the spring snow-melting. Aerating loosens up the soil and prevents it from becoming compacted, which leads to good soil structure. This will help water pass easily to the root zone of the grass, helping your plants get the moisture they need!
Another important step is to fertilize when necessary. When people see their lawn starting to brown, their first instinct is usually to water more. However, usually what the grass is lacking is the proper nutrients. Using a good fertilizer will help the grass grow deeper roots, and will help it go longer without needing water.
Let Grass Grow Longer
One easy trick to be able to go longer between waterings is to let the grass grow a little longer before mowing. The longer the grass is, the more it’s able to shade its own roots from evaporation. The shorter the grass is, the more water you’ll lose! Even just an extra ¼ inch between mowing can help you go an extra day or two before watering. Try it out on your own lawn a couple of times to see what works best for you.
Water More, Less Often
A lot of people don’t know this, but the amount of time you water has a big impact on your property. If you only irrigate for short periods of time, your grass will get accustomed to only getting its moisture from the top inch of soil. This prevents it from growing longer roots, and makes it require more water more often. The deeper you water, the longer the grass roots will need to grow to find moisture.
Watering deeply is most effective when you let the soil dry out between waterings. This is another way to promote deeper root growth. Your grass will stretch its roots to find more moisture deeper in the soil. The deeper the water is, the less likely it will be lost to evaporation! This will save your water, and save you money in the long run.
Water in the Morning
The best time of day to water is in the morning. This is because the air is nice and cool, and there usually isn’t as much wind as during the night. It’s a very cool and calm time of day which makes it ideal for watering! Try and have all of your watering done before 10am.
Update Your Sprinkler Heads
Have you tested your irrigation system to see how good your uniformity or precipitation rate is? People tend to water their lawns according to the driest part. If one area needs watering, the whole landscape gets watered even if other areas don’t need it. Things that cause this are ineffective sprinkler heads and poor uniformity. This is a simple fix, and can be tested quickly by landscaping professionals. Simply changing out your old sprinkler heads can save you a lot of water! If you want to check on the efficacy of your irrigation system, give us a call today.
These tips will help you be wise and how much water you’re using on your landscape. If you have additional questions or want the opinion of a trained professional, don’t hesitate to reach out!