Even with the amounts of rain we saw already this year in Colorado, conserving water and paying attention to outdoor water use is good practice from spring through fall. It’s important to adhere to lawn watering rules even in fall when the weather starts to get cool.
Do Not Water Between 10 A.M. and 6 P.M.
The cool times of the day are best for watering your lawn, and early morning is better than evening. If you water during the day, a lot of the water evaporates and you end up wasting it. Watering during the night encourages mold and mildew, which won’t make your lawn fare well, either. Water in the early morning to avoid both of these issues. Your plants will get as much water as possible, and any leaves or flowers that get wet will dry as the sun comes up.
Only Water Three Days Per Week
You should only need to water twice a week for good results. Add a third day sporadically when the temperature is especially hot and the weather especially dry. A great way to keep your plants from being thirsty while using less water is to lay down mulch. Mulch not only combats weeds, but it helps keep the soil moist because it prevents water evaporation in the soil, saving the water for your plants.
Time Your Watering
Especially in fall, you really don’t need to be running the sprinkler for that long to get good results. Depending on what kind of sprinkler you have, you may need anywhere from 11 to 28 minutes in September. Make sure you’re watering for the right amount of time, not more. Plus, if it’s rained recently, you don’t need to water at all.
Water Your Plants Only
This means no letting water pool in gutters, on the street, or in alleys. It also means not to let your sprinkler spray on concrete or hit the side of your house. Be careful how you position your sprinklers, and test them before letting them run. Speaking of watering plants, make sure you’re only watering the plants that need it. Check at your local plant nursery to find out how often each of your plants really needs to be watered.
Use Hoses with Shut-Off Valves
Whether you’re watering your lawn and landscaping by hand or washing your car, Make sure your hose has a nozzle on it that automatically shuts the water stream off when you’re not using it. Letting water run out of a hose while you’re scrubbing or changing locations in the yard might only seem like a little bit of waste, but built up over the course of months, it turns into a considerable amount.
Get in the habit of conserving now. It’s good for the environment and will help the city and state in times of drought. Learn good practices this fall that you can apply to your yard and landscaping for years to come.