Your Landscape Can Survive a Drought

Drought Proofing Your Landscape

by Mark Taylor with CGreen Landscape Irrigation

What You Should Know About Water Conservation & Water Restrictions During Drought Conditions

Many cities are implementing drought plans and mandatory water restrictions which limit landscape irrigation to two days a week.  While we at CGreen Landscape Irrigation help with water conservation and water restrictions specifically where it pertains to water efficient landscapes, we always encourage you to visit your city’s website to review your particular water restrictions and make preparations to comply by acclimating your landscape to the recommended or mandatory water conservation practices. No matter what your water restrictions are during drought climates, there are numerous things you can do to prepare and help your landscape survive a drought.

Since water use increases 30% - 60% during summer and everyone tends to want to water more during drought conditions, it is important to conserve water in a landscape with efficient irrigation. Study your city’s drought plan and make immediate and long range plans to conserve water. New irrigation technologies and other water conservation landscape practices allow landscape water conservation to be easy, affordable and rewarding specifically during drought conditions.

As you learn more about your sprinkler system specifically in drought conditions, it is important to know pop-up fixed spray heads (No Rotation) on average apply water at a rate of 1.75 inches per hour, rotating heads apply water on average at .75 inches per hour, drip irrigation is more variable but will average 1.25 inches per hour. Every landscape and sprinkler system is unique, in order to determine the exact precipitations. Properly designed water efficient landscapes require no more than 1” of water per week which is important to manage in drought conditions.

Many water efficient landscapes require as little as half or less than that amount. Frequency of watering also has an impact on the drought tolerance of your landscape. Deeper more infrequent watering encourages deep root growth requiring less irrigation which helps with drought conditions. More frequent watering encourages shallow root growth requiring more frequent irrigation. Deeper roots have more water available for an extended period. The water conservation and landscape practices below will provide some guidance to keep your landscape alive during a drought.

The immediate actions to prepare for drought are:

• Mulch all planted areas 2” – 4” which slows evaporation, moderates soil temperature and decomposes providing nutrients for the plants.
• Efficient irrigation is essential if your sprinkler system is not working properly especially during a drought, no matter how much you water, the landscape suffers and water is wasted. Check for pipe and valve leaks indicated by greener faster growing grass or water bubbling out of the ground, clogged heads, misaligned heads, misting versus spraying, water spraying anywhere except landscape/turf and excessive runoff.
• No Automatic Watering: Run your sprinkler system manually when the landscape shows drought stress.
• Judge irrigation requirements in the morning: High afternoon summer temperatures cause plants to wilt and/or discolor, drop leaves etc.  Once the sun sets, the lawn and plants look normal, if in the morning the lawn and plants look like water is required, then irrigation is justified.
• Cycle and Soak Irrigation Method: Sprinkler systems generally apply water faster than the ground will absorb it. This is especially true in lawn areas. Mulched areas absorb water more efficiently.

On a molecular level soils will absorb water more efficiently after they have been wetted. Use the cycle and soak method by:

1. Determine how long to run each zone using the average precipitation rates listed above or have an irrigation professional perform an irrigation audit of your sprinkler system.
2. Water the lawn areas in 2 to 4 short cycles instead of one long cycle. Remember you need a maximum of 1” of water per week.
3. Wait 30 minutes between watering cycles

Most irrigation controllers have the ability to run multiple start times per day. If you have trouble programming your sprinkler system controller visit the manufacturer’s website, call their customer service line, or contact your CGreen Landscape Irrigation team.  And always remember...

• Water after 6:00 PM or before 10:00 AM
• Mow your lawn at a Higher SettingTaller grass will create shade which will reduce evaporation from the soil and protect roots from excessive heat.

• Do Not FertilizePlant growth naturally decreases and/or plants go dormant during a lengthy drought. Do not encourage new growth by fertilizing.

Long Term Plans for Landscape Water Conservation

• Change Nozzles on Your Sprinkler HeadsChange spray nozzles to more efficient multi-stream, rotating nozzles which apply water in heavier droplets, so less water is lost to wind and/or evaporation - important during times of drought.

• Replace ControllerReplace an older controller with a new one that is capable of cycle and soak or go even higher tech with a controller that uses a compact weather monitor to create its own schedule based on real time weather. These are known as “Smart Controllers”.

• Install a Rain Freeze SensorThis prevents an automatic system from applying water while raining, or shortly after raining, or when temperatures fall below freezing.

• Drip IrrigationConvert your spray zones into drip irrigation during drought conditions. Drip is 90% efficient compared to spray heads which are about 60% efficient when designed, installed and maintained properly.

• Plant Drought Tolerant PlantsUtilizing native and adaptive drought tolerant plants reduces the amount of water required by your landscape. Wait until the drought conditions and water restrictions have lifted before making plant changes in your landscape.

• Plant TreesShade trees cool the landscape and therefore lower the amount of water needed during drought conditions. Plant trees on the western side of your landscape for the most benefit.

To learn more about drought proofing your landscape in order to deal with water conservation and water restrictions, 'Like' the CGreen Landscape Irrigation Facebook fan page and 'subscribe' to the CGreen Landscape Irrigation YouTube channel.  Also, my personal blogs are posted under Mark Taylor on our website.  We always appreciate your feedback, so let us know your thoughts through the Comments below.

Keywords: irrigation, sprinkler, landscape irrigation, drought, sprinkler system, watering, water restrictions, water conservation, landscape, conserve water, water efficient landscapes, efficient irrigation, CGreen Landscape Irrigation