After the abundance of rain we have received during the winter and spring, it’s hard to believe we need to start thinking about irrigating our yards once again. Good irrigation is the most powerful tool a gardener can have. Our dry summer and fall seasons make proper watering a vital part of a healthy yard. Water is essential because it is the main component of all plants. A typical perennial is ninety-five percent water. The flower and greenery that we see and enjoy serves as a container to hold all of this water. The amount of water and how you apply it can determine the beauty of your yard more than anything else.

Many people avoid watering the proper amount once they catch a glimpse of their water bill. Your water bill need not be very high if you become water wise. First of all, if you are starting your landscape from scratch, you have the benefit of planting water conservative plants. Cactus and desert plants are not the only water wise plants. There are many beautiful, lush looking choices that do not need much water. Do not mistake drought tolerant plants for plants that never need water. Even the least thirsty plants look better with some irrigation. Drought tolerant means just that, it will tolerate a drought, not thrive in it. A poorly watered plant will not be lush and full of blooms. Ask your local nursery for suitable drought tolerant plants.

If you have an established landscape, altering your irrigation system could lower your water bill. Sprinklers can irrigate a garden very well, but they can also waste a lot of water. The trouble with the sprinklers is that they spray water over a wide area. Sprinklers don’t just water your plants; they also water bare ground and weeds. Sprinklers water more area than needed and encourage weeds.

A more precise way to irrigate a landscape is through drip irrigation. Developed years ago in Israel, drip irrigation reduces water usage by up to two-thirds. Water is dripped onto the soil right in the area of plant roots. The rate of the drip is slow enough to prevent any water run-off. This slow watering also allowed the water to go deep into the soil. Deep watering encourages deep roots which can survive dry spells better. Soil farther below the surface is cooler and moister than on the surface. Drip irrigation waters your plants without watering weeds and bare soil.

If a new irrigation system or new plantings are beyond your budget, be water wise by irrigating at the right time of the day, early in the morning. The early morning is cool enough that much of the water will not evaporate in the heat. The evening is also cool, but watering at this time leaves moisture on the leaves of plants overnight, which can cause disease problems.

Some of us are not “early birds” and do not want to be out early in the morning to water. An electronic clock, or “timer”, is a terrific solution. It can be set to turn on your irrigation on at any time for any length you wish. The only problem is that the timer cannot distinguish a rainy day from a hot, sunny day. Your job is to turn off the clock during rain and to adjust the clock according to the seasons, less for cold seasons and more for hot seasons.

Don’t forget the gardener’s most powerful tool, water. Proper irrigation can make a garden extraordinary without causing an extraordinary water bill.

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