As the warmer weather slowly creeps in and the rains become less frequent, you are probably starting to think about watering the lawn and landscape in the coming weeks. I have heard some people say they may give up on watering this year because it’s too expensive. Here are some tips to help you save money by conserving water and making your irrigation system more efficient.

• Whether you water your lawn with the hose and sprinkler or you have a top-notch irrigation system — water in the morning. Watering in the evening causes the moisture to sit on the blades during the cool night and can be a breeding ground for fungus. Watering in the heat of the day is a waste of your money and causes the grass to burn. 30 to 40% of the water evaporates and never reaches the roots of your lawn. The droplets also act like a magnifying glass that will cook the lawn.
• Water fewer times per week for longer spans. In my many years of experience I have noticed that many people think if you have a sprinkler system you should water all the time. This is not correct. The best way to water is a longer time once or twice per week. This forces the roots to grow deeper between waterings and will make for a healthier lawn.
• If you have an irrigation system — install a rain sensor. We have all been out during a rain storm and seen the local gas station watering away like it’s sunny and dry. What a waste of water! This is especially true for those of us that are gone on vacation or business trips frequently. They are simple to have installed on any system and will, in most cases, save more money over time than they cost. Not to mention saving the environment.
• Have your system checked each spring by a reputable company to make sure it is operating at its best. Many heads start to leak over time causing wet/soggy spots in the lawn or can be mis-aligned not giving proper coverage. Valves can leak even when off costing you extra money on your water bill that you don’t know about.
• If your system is older, consider upgrading it to more efficient heads and a smarter controller. Believe it or not, sprinkler systems advance like computers and every few years new models are introduced. While it is not necessary to change things as often as a computer, it is a good idea to have it evaluated for ways to make it more efficient and use less water. Many of the newer heads cover better than the older models while using almost half the water. Valves can be adjusted to use only the amount of water and pressure that is needed for that zone and controllers are programable to multiple watering schedules. The more advanced controllers can even be controlled by your computer or remotely.

When you spend money on something like a car you maintain it by changing the oil and rotating the tires. If you have (or are thinking about having) an irrigation system, plan to invest some money to keep it operating at its best. I am always amazed by people I meet that spend thousands of dollars to install something like a sprinkler system or water feature and then think they can maintain it themselves with the cheapest products available; if they maintain it at all. Why? Put some of these tips into action and let me know how it works for you.

Have a topic that you would like me to write about in next month’s column? Email me and let me know.

Earth Effects Lawn and Landscape is happy to help! You can reach Daniel at 816-478-7700, danield@eelawn.com or via www.eelawn.com. A link is provided for you to ask questions at any time. Stay tuned for next month’s issue. Happy watering!