Local news- Press Release
City of Avondale Arkansas - January Tips How to Save Water and Money by Improving Outdoor Watering Techniques 10 January 2024 ( news )
City of Avondale , state Arkansas ( By Press Release office)
Jan 10,2024
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Management of Water
Over half of household water – in some cases as much as three - quarters - goes into our landscapes , figuratively speaking in a household that uses an average of 10 , 000 gallons per month approximately 7 , 500 gallons is for outside use and 2 , 500 gallons for indoor use . Watering your yard efficiently is one of the best and easiest ways to save water .
Three parts to sensible landscape watering:
1 .
How much water do your plants need?
The trick is to give your plants enough water without giving them too much water . Why?
Watering too little can lead to wilt from which the plant may not recover , but watering too much is bad for plants because it starves the roots of oxygen .
How Deep to Water?
The 1 - 2 - 3 Rule is an easy way to remember how deep to water
:
Water small plants such as groundcovers , cacti , and annuals to a depth of 1 foot . ( Grass should be watered to a depth of 10 inches . )
Water medium plants such as shrubs to a depth of 2 feet .
Water large plants such as trees to a depth of 3 feet .
2 . How much water does each part of your watering system apply?
On the average ,
pop - up sprinklersapply 0 . 4 inches of water in 15 minutes , and
impact sprinklersapply 0 . 2 inches of water in 15 minutes . Measure lawn
sprinkleroutput by using the can test on page 5 .
Drip emittersare typically sized in gallons or liters per hour . If you don’t know the output of your drip emitters , you can remove an emitter and take it to an irrigation supply or home and garden store , or use the diagram on page 6 .
Bubblerstypically apply ½ to 2 gallons per minute . The flow is often stamped on the top of the bubbler .
3 .
Match your system’s output to your plants’ needs .
You are now ready to use the run time worksheet on page 10 to estimate ( how long to run the irrigation ) and frequency ( days between watering ) for each area of your landscape . As weather and other factors change , you will need to adjust watering frequency , NOT the run time .
A Landscape Watering Guideline Chart located on page 18 is divided into seasons and suggests a wide range in watering frequency .
You can reduce your landscape watering 30 to 50 percent by adjusting your irrigation each season .
A good irrigation controller that is properly programmed can keep your plants healthy and save a lot of water .
Use of mulch will reduce evaporation by covering the soil and keeping the temperature cooler . Keep mulches 2 to 4 inches from plant stems .
Water is limited in our desert home and should be used wisely . Proper watering will keep your landscape plants healthy and beautiful through the years . Just remember the three parts to sensible landscape watering:
Know how much water your plants need .
Know how much water each part of your watering system applies .
Match your system’s output to your plants’ needs .
Remember plants don’t save water , people do . For more water - saving tips in and around your home , visit
www . wateruseitwisely . com
https://wateruseitwisely . com/wp - content/uploads/2013/07/Landscape - Watering - Guide . pdf
Water Wisdom
While fertilizers promote plant growth , they also increase water consumption . Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed .
Soil Probes
A soil probe , sharpened piece of rebar , or a very long screwdriver works well to test how deep the water has penetrated the soil .
Bermuda grass is dormant in the winter and will only require water once every 3 - 4 weeks or less if it rains .
Because of different watering needs , it is best to place trees and shrubs on separate valves .
Suggested Drip Emitter Quantities ( see watering by the numbers chart on pg . 9 )
If you place mulch - especially organic mulch such as wood chips or compost - over your plants’ root zones , moisture will stay in the soil longer .
PLAY the NEWS
* May be useful for visually impaired persons .
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