Turf Lawns and Water Conservation
Everyone is gradually concerned about water. Water is a limited resource that plays a crucial role in every man’s being. Even more, it is vital to the growth of our turf lawns.
As a result, property owners seek ways to keep their lawns healthy and green while respecting the environment and conserving water, particularly during drought.
Why Save Water?
The demand for potable water for residential, agricultural, and industrial use is rising, while water supply tends to be essentially unchanged. Those that change are receding rapidly due to climate change.
As the demand for water supply increases, its cost will undoubtedly rise. Due to this, water conservation measures need to be employed for both reasonable and economic reasons.
Water conservation is about guaranteeing sufficient water for everyone, from bathing to cooking and food production. From this perspective, using water to maintain a beautiful yard is a waste, especially if you live in drought-touched areas such as California.
In addition, when insufficient rain and water resources become finite, supplementary irrigation needed to sustain lawns is the first thing water officials restrain in new regulations.
As such, homeowners and professional turf grass managers have to maintain high-quality and functional turf with less water.
Water Conservation Practices
The following water conservative measures are routinely successful in arid and semi-arid regions and will undoubtedly help your turf grass conserve water:
• Use modern technology to avoid waste.
You can incorporate several devices into your turf lawn and irrigation system to avoid water waste.
Gadgets like an automatic rain shut-off and irrigation systems let you rest easy knowing everything is in control. These nifty gadgets automatically detect moisture levels in your soil and keep the irrigation system off when water is sufficient.
For instance, if you have installed it on your irrigation system, the automatic rain-shutoff device tells it to switch off when a specific amount of rain has fallen.
Such systems will help you save money and stop you from damaging your lawn due to excessive watering.
• Eliminate leaks in your irrigation system
Leaks are a serious issue and essentially occur when your sprinklers are off.
Detached underground lines can pump small quantities of water into the soil without your knowledge. Even a trickle adds up.
According to the EPA, a single leak with a 1/32″ diameter on an outdoor faucet, emitter, or hose can result in more than 6,000 gallons of water in a year. Imagine the loss if you have several leaks!
A professional landscaping company will help you oversee your system, so you do not have to worry about leaks. But if you choose to inspect your sprinkler heads and lines for leaks, make sure to do this regularly.
• Choose lawn grasses that naturally conserve water.
Now, this step can make a significant difference in your water use. Some plants, such as yucca, yarrow, sage, and white fir, do not need as much water as others. They are naturally adapted to flourish in low water conditions.
You may not like replacing your grass with either of the mentioned varieties, but you can still take steps to choose efficient ones. Check with a professional landscaper for advice on which species can thrive in your area.
• Rely on rain
There is usually enough water from rainfall to guarantee sturdy green grass. If you decide to water past that, at least wait for the lawn to exhibit a dull green color. Wilting and visible footprints are also a good indication of a thirsty lawn.
In short periods of drought, you can allow the lawn to turn brown and go dormant for a while. Lawns are remarkably tough and can withstand drought for a maximum of 2 months if left alone. Well-fed grass will tilt back upon the return of cooler temperatures and rainfall.
• Water the soil and not the leaves
Watering the leaves will not help you conserve water because there will be high water loss to evaporation on the leaves’ surface. To keep evaporation at a minimum, water at the root zone.
This also helps prevent sunscald and controls fungal diseases. A well-designed drip irrigation system is better suited for this water application than simple lawn sprinklers.
This is an investment that will eventually pay off in healthier plants and reduced water bills.
• Limit the size of the lawn to your specific needs
If your key goal for planting a turf lawn is to create a place for your children and pets to play, consider limiting the size to the desired play area. This will help you avoid watering other areas that you do not actually need; as a result, saving you water and water bills as well.
Although artificial grass is usually considered a safer preference for play areas due to its sturdy and level surface, many homeowners still prefer the traditional turf lawn.
A small, natural, and well-shaped turf lawn will equally enhance the visual appearance of your yard even more by including several native and succulent plants.
• Avoid watering when the sun is at its peak.
Fortunately, most people in the lawn care industry know and practice this. The ideal time for water conservation is the dusk and dawn hours when the sun is low in the sky.
The early morning works magic because, at this time, things have not yet started to heat up yet. Water will seamlessly penetrate the root system in the soil without competing with extra evaporation.
Final Thoughts
With or without drought, lawn owners should conserve water. It is their duty to the community.
Employing low-water practices in your turf lawn will always be the best way to conserve water. It is not the grass plants that cause issues related to water usage, but instead the poorly maintained turf areas coupled with improperly designed and operated irrigation systems.
With the general landscaping and water conservation tips mentioned above, you can significantly save water while giving your yard a beautiful presence. Do not waste your hard-earned cash on keeping your lawn green while there are manageable options to help you do that.
