According to the EPA, the average American uses 100 gallons of water each day, and the average household spends 30%-60% of its daily water supply on gardening and lawn care alone, depending on the season and climate1. In addition, growing population and consequent demand for water continue to rise. While these numbers should drive everyone to be good stewards of our water supply, gardeners need not despair nor assume that lush gardens and lawns require copious amounts of water.
A water-smart landscape can be achieved at any phase from initial planning to long-term maintenance. While there are seven nationally-recognized practices in developing a water-smart landscape, to discuss each in depth is beyond the scope of this article. UGA Extension provides ample information on each of these practices. Following are just a few measures to boost your landscape’s water-efficiency.
First, take note of your property’s physical attributes. How does your home and surrounding structures (fences, sidewalks, driveways, sheds, etc.) affect drainage and rainwater run-off? When and where do you have sunlight and shade? Are there areas where winds may degrade moisture retention in your soil? Knowing the answers to these questions will identify any problems that need addressing before you spend time and money on soil improvement and plant selection.
Check your soils for pH, nutrients, structure, and texture. The goal is to develop the best environment for developing root systems. Good soils retain moisture, yet are well-aerated and drain effectively.
Create high, moderate, and low water-use zones. High water-use zones should occupy the smallest percentage of your landscape, such as the front of your home, or a special “sanctuary” you’ve created in the back yard. These locations are reserved for those seasonal beds and colorful containers that require regular, weekly watering and maintenance. Moderate water-use zones are those spaces for perennials and trees that need supplemental water only when signs of stress are evident. Low water-use zones, which should occupy the majority of your property, are watered only in extreme drought once established. There are many ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials, and turf grasses that will do fine in low water-use zones; contact UGA Extension for a list.
When planting, be sure to incorporate already established trees and shrubs into your design. These require less water, provide needed shade, lower temperatures, reduce water loss, and dissipate heat. Choose plants, trees, and shrubs that are suited to the planting site and the environment, as well as to the intended water-use zone. Remember that just because a plant may be “native” does not mean it is drought-tolerant.
Proper planting and mulching is critical. Take care to space plants according to their size at maturity. Proper spacing eases maintenance and ensures efficient water use. Mulches provide many benefits, such as retaining soil moisture and reducing weed competition. Make sure to use fine-textured mulches such as pine straw, pine bark mini-nuggets, or shredded hardwood chips.
Finally, use a watering method that is appropriate for each water-use zone. Routine watering should only be necessary in the small, high-use zones. For moderate-use zones, hand watering or a portable system (e.g. drip hose) is sufficient on an as needed basis. Low water-use zones receive rainfall only.
Water-smart landscaping may require additional time and expense up front; but, not only are these costs soon recouped, the gains in water, time, and money are long-lasting. For more information, consider these circulars from UGA Extension:
Developing a WaterSmart Landscape (Circular 930) https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C930&title=Developing%20a%20WaterSmart%20Landscape
Irrigation for Lawns and Gardens (Circular 894) https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B894&title=Irrigation%20for%20Lawns%20and%20Gardens (circular 894)
Using Water Wisely with Automated Irrigation Systems (Circular 870) https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C870&title=Using%20Water%20Wisely%20with%20Automated%20Irrigation%20Systems
The author of this article, Amy Rhoads is a Paulding County Master Gardener Extension Volunteer. Master Gardener Extension Volunteers are trained to provide education for homeowners on horticulture, sustainable landscaping, and environmentally friendly gardening practices using unbiased, research-based information from the University of Georgia. For more information, contact University of Georgia Cooperative Extension in Paulding County to speak with a Master Gardener or County Extension Agent at 770-443-7616 or view our online resources at www.ugaextension.org/paulding.
