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Key Points
- Checking sprinklers for clogs or misaligned heads prevents water waste and ensures efficient watering.
- Watering at dawn or dusk reduces evaporation, helping more water reach grass roots and saving resources.
- Use tools like rain sensors and precision nozzles to minimize overwatering and cut unnecessary water use.
Proper watering is an essential part of good lawn care, and there are ways to save on water this summer while still giving your thirsty lawn the water it needs to stay healthy. But how do you strike that perfect balance?
We checked with a lawn pro to learn more about how to provide your grass with the right amount of water it needs (and no more), precisely when it needs it. Here are seven ways to save on water this summer.
Meet the Expert
Peter Lackner is a precision irrigation marketing manager for Toro.
Check Your Sprinklers
Before you do anything, start with a simple sprinkler check—a quick visual inspection that you do after turning your automatic irrigation system on for a test run.
“Look for clogged nozzles or heads that got turned around and are spraying the sidewalk instead of where they’re intended to water,” says irrigation pro Peter Lackner.
The fix is just as easy: Unclog the nozzles in question, and turn around the heads spraying water in the wrong direction.
Water at the Right Time of Day
The right timing is essential to the proper way to water the lawn regardless of whether you water manually or through an irrigation system.
“Setting sprinklers to run at dawn or dusk minimizes water loss due to evaporation caused by heat from the sun and ground temperatures. This allows more water to reach plants’ root systems,” Lackner says.
Keep Irrigation Systems From Running During Rainstorms
If your sprinklers are on an automatic system, they’ve probably gone off while it was actively raining. To reduce this water waste, you can add a rain sensor that will automatically shut sprinklers off when it rains.
“Most irrigation systems can be equipped with a rain sensor that is adjustable so you can set the amount of precipitation that will automatically shut off the sprinklers,” Lackner says. “Some advanced systems will even measure the exact amount of rainfall and deduct that amount from the watering schedule on subsequent days.”
Make Sure the Water’s Going to Where It’s Supposed To
Switching from standard nozzles to precision spray nozzles is another way to save water while watering the lawn. By regulating flow rates, spray patterns, and even droplet sizes, this type of nozzle brings the water to the precise spot where it’s needed, and in the exact amount required.
“[Precision spray nozzles] can be retrofitted into any brand of sprayhead as easily as changing out a light bulb,” Lackner says.
Stop the Leaks
If you’re trying to save on water this summer, the last thing you should tolerate is leaks. Flow sensors are the answer to that problem.
“These sensors can detect leaks and track flow rate to show the actual monthly water usage,” Lackner says.
Tailor Your Watering to Your Climate
We don’t all have the same water needs for our lawns; if you’re watering more than you have to, you’re wasting money. An easy answer to this problem is the use of online calculators.
“Homeowners can easily calculate the run time and frequency of lawn watering to minimize water usage,” Lackner says. “The Irritrol ET calculator uses your ZIP code to give you a month-by-month estimate of daily water needs.”
Mow High
Even how you mow affects water usage. You can save on water by sticking to the correct mowing height, which is 3 to 4 inches. This is higher than some people like to keep their grass, but taller grass casts shade on the soil conserving moisture.
Mowing high is easy: Just adjust the wheel height on your mower such that, after you’ve made your pass when mowing, the remaining grass stands 3 to 4 inches tall.
Read the original article on The Spruce
