Water Landscapes Efficiently

There are certain ingredients vital to the survival of your landscaping. One of the most important is water. H2O is the lifeblood of plants, trees and lawns. Still, as simple as watering your lawn and garden may seem, there is in fact a science behind doing so correctly and efficiently.

1. Know your soil

Depending upon what type of soil you have, watering needs will be varied. Plus, soil should be loosened around plants to allow water to penetrate more easily.

The best type of soil is loam soil. Loam features a combination of sand, silt and clay, which allows water to penetrate and then stores it for plants to use. Clay soil absorbs water slowly, so water only as fast as the clay can absorb. You should also mix in peat moss or organic compost to improve the soil. Sandy soil is often encountered. Water can run through very

quickly, making

it difficult for roots to obtain what they need. Add organic matter to supplement the soil.

2. When to water

Watering in early morning or evening is best. This reduces the amount of water that will evaporate from the sun. Also try to time watering when the wind is calm, otherwise you may not be able to control where the water goes.

3. Tips for water use

Watering deeply once is better than shallow watering several times per day. Watering to a depth of 4 to 6 inches promotes stronger, deeper root growth and development, and also contributes to longer times between watering.

To measure how much water a lawn or garden is getting, The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends placing an empty tuna fish can (or cat food can) on the lawn while watering. When the can is full, stop watering.

4. Choosing a sprinkler or hose

There are many types of watering accessories available. Many homeowners prefer the convenience of underground sprinkler systems that water set areas on a timer. There are other sprinklers that attach to a garden hose that can water a lawn efficiently. Cascading sprinklers are more effective than the rotating shoot-shootshoot types because they'll saturate the ground more quickly and there's less chance of water being wasted on sidewalks and driveways. It is difficult and time consuming to water a larger lawn by hand with a hose and spray nozzle - you just may not water long or deep enough.

5. How often?

You should be safe watering a lawn and garden every five to seven days in moderate weather. During extremely hot patches of weather or when there hasn't been adequate rain, you may want to water every three days.

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