Outdoor Water Conservation

During the summer months, there is an increase in water demand. Watering lawns accounts for the largest proportion of residential water use. Conserving water simply means using water wisely - here are some suggestions:

Landscaping

• Check the upcoming weather and water only when required.
• Water when cool and do not water on windy days.
• Watering in the early morning is typically better than dusk as it helps prevent fungus growth.
• Avoid over-watering the lawn.
• When do I need to water?
  - Use an automatic timer on your sprinkler to regulate the amount/duration of watering.
  - Select a sprinkler that suits the size and shape of your lawn or garden.
  - Consider installing drip irrigation wherever possible or use a root irrigator for deep watering.
  - Water long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots where it will do the most good. A light sprinkling
     can evaporate quickly and tends to encourage shallow root growth.
• Use rain barrels to capture water for plants.
• When using a hose, control flow with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
• Do not cut grass too short; mowing grass to a length of (5 - 6.5 cm) protects the roots from the sun and helps retain soil moisture.
• Aerate lawn to encourage movement of water to the root zone.
• Add a layer of mulch (i.e., wood chips, bark or gravel) around trees and plants to help prevent evaporation and suppress weed growth.
• Minimize chemical fertilizers.
• Leaving a thin layer of grass clippings on the lawn increases the organic matter in the lawn, discourages weeds and helps retain moisture while returning nutrients to the soil.
• Consider planting drought-resistant native plants and trees as many native plants can survive on rainwater alone.
• Consider xeriscaping options.

Driveways and Sidewalks

• Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
• Do not water the sidewalk or driveway. Position sprinklers so water lands on the lawn or garden, not paved areas.

Car Washing

• Do not run the hose continuously when washing your car.
• Washing the car uses 500 litres (130 gallons) of water.
• Clean the car with a pail of soapy water. Use the hose for a quick rinse.
• Consider using products for washing your car that require no water at all.
• Take your car to a commercial car wash that collects its water and has it treated for reuse.

Leak Detection

• Outside leaks may seem as bad since they are not as visible but they can be just as wasteful as leaks inside.
• Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets, and couplings

Pool

• If you have a swimming pool, consider a new water saving pool filter.
• Lower pool water level to reduce amount of water splashed out.
• Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation when pool is not being used.

Other

• Do not install or use ornamental water features unless they recycle the water.
• Avoid purchasing recreational toys which require a constant stream of water.

Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping is defined as quality landscaping that conserves and protects the environment. The word is a combination of the Greek word “xeros”, which means “dry,” and “landscape.” Xeriscaping is intended to reduce, not eliminate, water consumption through the use of native plants and introduced drought-tolerant plants.

Xeriscaping	Non-xeriscaping
United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2002

Lean more about xeriscaping principles and water wise plant selection.

Advantages of Xeriscaping

1. Xeriscaping Saves Water
Through the use of native and introduced drought-tolerant plants, water consumption can be significantly reduced. After the initial establishment period, the new landscape may require between 30-70 per cent less water than more conventional plantings.

2. Xeriscaping Saves Time
Since plants used in xeriscaping are better suited to local environmental conditioned, they generally require less maintenance in the form of watering, fertilizing, pruning and mowing. After the initial establishment period, a xeriscape may only require 20 per cent of the maintenance when compared to conventional landscaping.

3. Xeriscaping Saves Money
Reductions in water consumption and maintenance result in decreased costs associated with landscaping.

4. Xeriscaping Saves the Environment
Xeriscaping requires less fertilizer and pest control measures than conventional landscaping. Pesticides and fertilizers can inadvertently harm a wide range of organisms, as well as impact air and water quality. Also, due to the decreased amount of plant trimmings, there will be a decrease in the amount of waste to be diverted or landfilled.

Xeriscaping Principles

Xeriscaping is based on seven basic principles that are essential for a good design. Successful landscaping for water conservation incorporates all of the following steps:

1. Proper planning and design considerations
2. Soil analysis and improvement
3. Water wise plant selection
4. Mulching
5. Appropriate use of traditional landscaping practices
6. Efficient irrigation
7. Appropriate maintenance

By planning and maintaining your landscape with these principles of water efficiency in mind and you will be able to continue to conserve water and be attractive.

1. Proper Planning and Design
Developing a landscape plan is the first and most important step in creating a water efficient landscape. Your plan should take into account the regional and microclimate conditions of the site, existing vegetation, topography, intended uses of the property, and most importantly, the grouping of plants by their water needs. Also consider the plants’ sun or shade requirements and preferred soil conditions.

2. Soil Analysis and Improvements
This is the most important of the seven xeriscaping principles. An ideal soil for water saving is a deep friable loam (mixture of sand, organic material and clay that crumbles easily). Rototilling or spading should be done to break up heavy compacted soils and to incorporate amendments such as organic and inorganic matter. Organic materials provide nutrients to the plants and micro organisms in the soil. They also add bulk and water holding capacity to otherwise loose sandy soils. With the addition of approximately 10 cm of organic matter, the soil’s ability to absorb and store water for plant use will increase.

3. Water Wise Plant Selection
Your landscape design should take into account your local climate as well as soil conditions. Focus on preserving as many existing trees and shrubs as possible because established plants usually require less water and maintenance. Select plants native to your region. Native plants, once established, require little or no additional water beyond normal rainfall. Also, because they are adapted to local soils and climatic conditions, native plants commonly do not require the addition of fertilizers and are more resistant to pests and disease.

Numerous water wise plants for the Airdrie area are readily available at local garden stores and growers or can be ordered by mail.

4. Mulching
Mulch is considered to be a blanket of organic or inorganic material that is placed at varying depths over the soil and around the roots of plants that prevents evaporation and helps to control weeds. Mulches limit soil erosion around plants and if organic, can improve the quality of the soil. They also inhibit soil compaction and ease the degree of moisture flow and protect plant roots from temperature fluctuations.
Examples of organic and inorganic mulches include the following:

5. Traditional Landscaping Practices
How and where grass is placed in the landscape can significantly reduce the amount of irrigation water needed to support the landscape. Lawns require large amounts of supplemental water and generally greater maintenance than other vegetation. Use grass where it aesthetically highlights the house or buildings and where it has practical function, such as in play or recreation areas. Grouping grass areas can increase watering efficiency and significantly reduce evaporation and runoff loses. Select a type of grass that can withstand drought periods and become dormant during hot, dry seasons. Reducing or eliminating grass areas altogether further reduces water.

6. Irrigation
The most common form of irrigation is the use of sprinkler systems or drip irrigation. Sprinklers typically discharge substantial amounts of water over wide areas in a relatively short period of time. Hose-end sprinklers combined with shutoff timers prevent excessive irrigation. A drip system is the most efficient way to water trees, shrubs and flowers. This system delivers water at low pressure through low volume emitters, bubblers or sprayers, directly to the root zone of each individual plant. To further reduce water consumption, consider using alternative sources of irrigation water, such as grey water, reclaimed water and collected rainwater.

7. Maintenance
Water and fertilize plants only as needed. Too much water promotes weak growth and increases pruning and mowing requirements. Avoid shearing plants or giving them high nitrogen fertilizers during dry periods because these practices encourage water demanding new growth. Like any landscape, a water efficient yard will require regular pruning, weeding, fertilization, pest control and irrigation. As your water efficient landscape matures, it will require less maintenance and less water. Cutting grass only when it reaches two to three inches, promotes deeper root growth and a more drought-resistant lawn.

Generally lawns receive more water than is actually required. It is important to recognize the signs of water deficiency so that the landscape is properly maintained. For instance, water is required when the grass starts to turn a dull green, or when footsteps leave lasting impressions. The best time to water is during the morning hours when it is cooler and the wind is down. Changing the watering schedule so that it coincides more closely with the plants’ natural water loss can reduce water by up to 20 per cent. Additionally, fine-tuning an irrigation system to ensure equal ground coverage can extend water savings to 30 per cent or more.

Water Wise Plants

Water wise plants for the Airdrie area that are readily available at local garden stores and growers or can be ordered by mail include:
Annuals
Groundcovers
Ornamental Grasses
Perennials
Shrubs
Trees

Suggested Reading

Bennett, J. 1998. Dry-Land Gardening: A Xeriscaping Guide for Dry-Summer, Cold-Winter Climates. Fire Fly Books. 176p.
Johnson, L. 1998. Grow Wild! Native Plant Gardening in Canada and Northern United States . Random House of Canada . 154p.
Williams, S. 1997. Creating the Prairie Xeriscape: Low Maintenance, Water Efficient Gardening. Lone Pine Publishing. 248p.

Annuals

(City of Calgary , 2003)

Perennials

(City of Calgary , 2003)

Groundcovers

(City of Calgary , 2003)

Grasses