California has experienced a series of droughts. During these droughts the main target of water conservation has been in your landscape, however water cutbacks does not necessarily mean a dry & brown landscape. You can achieve substantial savings without creating a fire hazard or jeopardizing your landscape appearance. Most of these changes are very simple and can be implemented immediately. Some may require more planning.

Your sprinkler system is where you can achieve the majority of savings. At least 50%! You can achieve this by replacing your current sprinkler heads with more efficient low volume heads, adjusting the spray patterns to avoid spraying on concrete areas, and automating your sprinkler system with a timer. These timers are easy to install and will water more efficiently to avoid any wasteful water run-off. Drought tolerant plant material is a very effective way to conserve water. This type of plant material requires minimal watering. Check with Ultra Greens Inc. Nurseryfor varieties and availability.

Your turf grass is a key factor in conserving water. The variety of grass you choose will affect the amount of water you will use. The more popular type of turf is the tall fescue. This type of grass is a deep-rooted cool season variety that will grow in the sun and shade and will remain green all year long. The tall fescue type with its deep rooting system can help you conserve water. There are several other varieties to choose from.

Your soil also plays a very important part in how you conserve water. All soil types have different moisture holding capacities. Heavier clay and silt soil tends to hold more moisture than a lighter sandy type soil. Sandy soil will lose moisture and run down into the subsoil. You should incorporate sufficient organic matter into the soil to help retain moisture.

You should also avoid cutting your lawn too short. This will result in more water usage and could burn your lawn. Leave your lawn at a higher length to help develop a deeper root system. This will also help keep the surface cooler to reduce water evaporation.

Your choice of fertilizers can effect the amount of water needed for your landscape. A high nitrogen fertilizer in the summer months will fuel a rapid growth. This will require more water to sustain the growth. Select a fertilizer with a 10-6-4 ratio or lower, when its time to feed your lawn. This type of fertilizer will help maintain a green lawn and at the same time promote root growth.

When watering your lawn your should water only as needed. The easiest way to see if your lawn needs more water is to walk on your lawn. If your footprints fail to spring back within a few seconds, your lawn needs to be watered. In determining what time to water, usually the morning is the best time for watering. At this time of day, the temperatures are cooler and you have less wind. This will reduce water evaporation.

You also need to determine how long to water for. This can be difficult to calculate because there are so many factors to consider. You need to think of your soil type, sprinkler system and water pressure. Normally you should be applying about 1 inch of water to your lawn. One of the best ways to determine the amount of water is to place small containers on the lawn in various spots and run your sprinklers for about 20 minutes. Measure the amount of water in each container. This will help you figure out how long to run your sprinklers. You should however, avoid watering to long, which could result in wasteful run-off. You may need to divide your watering time for better absorption.

Please remember water is one of our most precious natural resources. And we should all do our part to conserve.