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Check for leaks in sprinklers, hoses, pipes and couplings. Repair leaks promptly.
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Think twice about fertilizing this spring. Fertilizers force plant growth and increase the amount of water a plant needs. During our cool springs, grass generally thrives on its own. If you must fertilize, use organic or slow-release fertilizers.
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Make your soil water-efficient. Before you plant, add 3 to 6 inches of organic matter to your soil and rototill. This allows your soil to hold water and nutrients in reserve and reduces the need for fertilizing and constant watering.
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Mulch around trees, shrubs and other plantings. Mulch helps prevent soil moisture loss, cutting down on watering needs. Adding compost or manure to soil before planting also helps retain soil moisture near plant roots, where it is needed.
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Water your lawn deeply and infrequently. One inch of water a week is generally all your lawn needs. Place several cups or empty tuna cans around your lawn while watering to measure how long it takes to apply one inch of water to your lawn. Lacey water customers can visit Lacey City Hall to pick-up a free outdoor watering kit that includes a rain gauge and a hose nozzle.
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Aerate and de-thatch your lawn if water won't penetrate the soil.
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Cut it high and let it lie. You've heard this before, but longer grass has deeper roots, and deeper roots have better access to soil moisture (2" to 3" tall is ideal). Leaving grass clippings on the lawn provides a source of nutrients and helps retain soil moisture.
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Accept grass's natural tendency to brown in the summer. Most grass varieties in our region are "cool season" grasses. This means that they are bred to thrive in the cool season and go dormant during periods of hot weather (just like most leaf-bearing trees go dormant in the winter). Grass that is brown in the heat of the summer isn't dead, its only sleeping! Watering your dormant lawn once a month is all it needs to rebound once the weather begins to cool off again.
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Use a shut-off nozzle when using a hose to water outdoors or wash the car. Park the car on the lawn while you wash it and you will be watering your grass at the same time. Stop by City Hall for a FREE outdoor watering kit that includes a rain gauge and a hose nozzle.
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| Use a broom to sweep your driveway or sidewalk. Using a hose to clean these surfaces wastes water and costs you money!
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| Water your lawn only before 10:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. Watering during the day means much of the water is lost to evaporation.
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| Adjust sprinklers to water only what grows. Watering sidewalks and driveways wastes water.
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| Invest in a rain sensor and irrigation timers for your sprinkler system. These will help ensure that you water only when your lawn needs it.
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| Consider replacing some turf with low-water-demand plants and incorporating native plants in your landscaping. Native plants and select perennials require less water than turf grass and many ornamentals. Also, planting in the fall means your new plants can use the fall rains to become established, rather than requiring attention and water throughout the dry summer.
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| Choose and place landscape plants with their watering needs in mind. Place water-demanding plants in shady or low-lying areas; drought-tolerant plants in drier areas. Group plants with similar watering needs rather than mixing water-demanding and drought tolerant plants.
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