Here are 35 innovative water conservation ideas to help you save water in your yard, lawn, or garden:
- More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering. Be sure only to water plants when necessary.
- Use sprinklers that throw big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller drops of water and mist can drift onto non-target areas, or evaporate before they hit the ground.
- Water lawns during the early morning when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces evaporation and waste. Watering in the evening can leave leaves wet all night, promoting disease problems.
- Hand-water with a hose where possible. Homeowners who water with a handheld hose can use one-third less water outdoors than those who use automatic sprinklers. Check out our selection of commercial-grade hoses.
- Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulch also helps reduce soil compaction from raindrops and helps control weeds that compete with landscape plants for water.
- Purchase a rain barrel and install it below your gutter downspout. A rain barrel can capture a little more than half a gallon of water for every square foot of roof during a one-inch rainfall. That means a 90-square-foot roof can completely fill a 55-gallon barrel! You can use that bounty to water your garden.
- Plant smart. Xeriscape landscaping is a great way to design, install, and maintain both your plants and irrigation system. Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs, and trees. Once established, they do not need water as frequently and usually survive a dry period without watering. It saves time, money, and water.
- Position sprinklers so they are not watering driveways and walkways.
- Adjust your lawnmower to cut grass to heights of 3 inches or more. Taller grass encourages deeper roots and shades the soil to reduce moisture loss.
- Start a compost pile or scrape food into the trash instead of running your garbage disposal, which requires a lot of water to work properly. Use the compost to improve the quality and water-holding capacity of your soil. We carry a variety of composting products to help you start and maintain a compost pile.
- Use a water timer on hose-end sprinklers to avoid over-watering.
- When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
- Only water your lawn when needed. You can tell this by simply walking across your lawn. If you leave footprints, it is time to water.
- While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.
- Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in your lawn about six inches apart so water can reach the roots rather than run off the surface. Check out our selection of aerators here.
- Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as cleaning or watering a plant or garden. For example, collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables and then reuse it to water houseplants; or when cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants.
- Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each use. Micro, drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of water-efficient methods of irrigation. Click here to see our drip irrigation supplies.
- Outfit your hose with a shut-off nozzle that can be adjusted so water flows only as needed. When finished, turn the water off at the faucet instead of at the nozzle to avoid leaks. The SO58 Leonard Brass Shut Off Valve is the one attachment that should be on every hose!
- Use hose washers on water hoses and attachments to eliminate leaks.
- Always keep an eye on your hoses and/or sprinklers! Your garden hose can pour out 600 gallons of water or more in only a few hours, so do not leave the sprinkler running all day. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn off your hoses.
- Verify that your home is leak free. Homes can have hidden water leaks that may be noticeable indoors, but outside can go undetected. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the readings do not match, there is a leak.
- Avoid purchasing recreational water toys that require a constant stream of water.
- Go with splashes of color instead of mass plantings of annuals. Yes, they are beautiful, but annuals (such as petunias and impatiens) typically require more water than most perennials.
- Rethink your lawn layout. If you live in a dry climate, you’ll need a lot of sprinkler activity to maintain a huge grassy swath. Consider replacing it with decorative gravel, which also reduces runoff.
- Collect shower/bath “warm-up" water in a bucket for use in watering plants
- Use water from dehumidifiers to water indoor and outdoor plants. You can also collect condensation water from air conditioning units to use for watering plants.
- Choose shrubs and groundcovers instead of turf for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips.
- Plant in the fall when conditions are cooler and rainfall is more plentiful.
- If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption. A heavy layer of thatch can be hydrophobic, so de-thatching might help.
- Remember to check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the sprinkler heads in good shape. Check your timing devices regularly too to be sure they operate properly.
- Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.
- Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case it malfunctions or you get an unexpected rain.
- Remember to weed your lawn and garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light, and water.
- Wash your car and pets on the lawn so that you can water your lawn at the same time.
- Use porous materials for walkways and patios to keep water in your yard and prevent wasteful runoff.
Try to do one thing each day that results in a savings of water. Even if the savings amount is minimal, every drop counts, and every person can make a difference. If a leak is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
