Plant and mountain views from the Water Conservation Garden
WATERWISE IRRIGATION PRACTICES Utah and much of the western United States has been experiencing serious drought conditions that have made water conservation more urgent than ever. State and local municipalities are considering mandatory restrictions on landscape irrigation that could challenge homeowners’ ability to effectively maintain desired conditions for home garden landscapes. With sound planning and good practices, steps can be taken that can have a real effect on reducing landscape water use, while still providing adequate irrigation for plants to thrive. Whether the commitment to reduce water consumption is improving conditions in an existing area or installing a new water-efficient landscape, a good irrigation plan and system is the best place to start. Planning the design of the landscape is an essential part of achieving water savings. Identify the type of plantings desired in the area. With water conservation becoming so important, the practice of waterwise landscaping has increased in popularity. Waterwise plantings can be very attractive and unique. Traditional turf/lawn plantings can be scaled back in more limited applications that will require less water but still provide a positive space. Planting turfgrass that is drought tolerant will also reduce the amount of irrigation needed. Creating designs throughout the landscape that minimize or eliminate water runoff can play an important role in conservation. Planting beds with contours that channel water runoff into basins that retain water will keep water where plants can use it. Low-water-use plantings can take advantage of irrigation systems that are designed to deliver water at lower volumes than traditional irrigation systems. Drip irrigation is a proven practice that reduces water use while still providing enough water for plants to thrive. Using spray emitters designed to produce larger droplet sizes and proper coverage patterns deliver water more efficiently, which improves precipitation penetration and reduces the amount of water used. Planning a new landscape with a low-volume irrigation system and low-water-use plantings is a solid strategy to conserve water. redbuttegarden.org
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