OUTDOOR WATER USE TIPS Save Money and Water on Outdoor Landscaping • Water only when needed. Look at the grass, monitor for rainfall in the forecast, feel the soil, or use a soil moisture meter to determine when to water. • Deep and infrequent watering called Cycle and Soak is best. Deep is four to six inches deep, infrequent is when your grass signals that it needs water (discolored, wilting, leaf blades begin to roll or fold, or footprints remain visible after you walked across it). Light, frequent applications of water produce a weak, shallow-rooted turf that cannot withstand heat and drought. By watering at the proper depth only when your lawn needs it, you encourage deep, healthy roots that can endure hot, dry weather. Water no more than every 5 days. • Watering during the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. with a permanently installed automatic irrigation system is prohibited from April 1 to October 31. • Water during the early morning or evening hours since evaporation losses will be up to 60 percent higher during the day. Do not water on windy days. Set sprinklers so the lawn is watered, not sidewalks and driveways. • Do not cut the grass too short. Longer blades of grass will reduce evaporation and root stress since shaded soil will not dry out as quickly. • The best choice for managing lawn clippings is the Don’t Bag It approach, which leaves clippings on the lawn and returns valuable nutrients to the soil. Plastic or paper bags of grass, leaves and other lawn clippings should be sealed and placed in your trash containers for weekly collection or placed at your front curb for collection as bulk waste. • Use SmartScape technique: txsmartscape.com. • Visit cityofcarrollton.com/water for more detailed information on ways to save water. • Visit waterisawesome.com for weekly watering advice.
WATER SAVING TIPS Take shorter showers using a lowflow showerhead instead of baths. Fix all leaks around the house, no matter how small. Install highefficient toilets Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps rather than hosing them off. Adjust sprinklers, so they don’t spray sidewalks or driveways. Invest in highefficiency appliances and only run full loads. Put organic mulch around shrubs and plants to reduce evaporation. Turn off the faucet when you: • brush your teeth • shave your face or legs • dry your hands or face
For water conservation information, call Utility Customer Service at 972-466-3120, Water Utilities at 972-466-3425, or visit 48
cityofcarrollton.com/water.
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