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  • Save Water - Have Your Dream Garden Too!

    Use less water while enjoying a lush, colorful garden filled with your landscape favorites.

    Water in the early morning to reduce evaporation
    Water between the hours of 4am and 8am. By doing so, this will cut evaporation, saving you money and conserving water.

    Switch from overhead sprinklers to soaker hoses
    Soaker hoses conserve water by dripping water right to the roots of the plant.

    Adjust timers on automatic sprinklers
    Most sprinklers are programmed to water too often. Set your timer to water longer (approximately 20 minutes) once a week. If plants show signs of stress such as wilting or yellowing add a second watering each week.

    Use water wands with a trigger
    When watering container gardens, hanging baskets or other small areas use a water wand with a trigger. This allows you to water only the plants and not the pavement or ground between plants. Make sure to water each plant thoroughly so water penetrates to the root system.

    Reduce lawn watering
    Most homeowners water their lawns too much. Reduce your total watering by as much as 50% - your lawn will be healthier and just as lush and green. This may mean skipping one lawn watering each week. Never restart the entire automatic watering cycle to water a dry patch - select the appropriate station and run manually.

    Mulch to conserve soil moisture
    Using mulch in your garden reduces weed germination, retains moisture and reduces the need for watering. Armstrong Garden Centers carry a wide selection of organic mulches that vary in color and texture to match any landscape.

    Don't over-fertilize
    Plants (or lawns) that are over-fed need more water to support the new growth. Follow the directions for each type of fertilizer - do not exceed suggested amounts or frequency of application. Consider timed-release plant foods or organics which release a steady amount of nutrients.

    Adjust watering seasonally
    Adjust the time and frequency of automatic sprinklers seasonally. Turn automatic sprinkler system off during rainy periods.

    Artificial grass
    Forget about adjusting sprinklers and watering all together with artificial grass. It’s incredibly lifelike, but virtually maintenance-free. Have it professionally installed or do-it-yourself.

     

    Plant Type Time to Water
    Small Shrubs
    (4 feet or less in height)
    One minute/5 gallons
    Large Shrubs
    (4 feet or taller)
    Increase watering time by 15 seconds for each foot of height
    Trees Apply 2 gallons for every inch of trunk diameter(measure 4.5 feet above the ground)
    Flowers 5 Gallons of water per 10 square feet/1 minute at medium pressure

     

    Water Rebates
    Various water agencies are offering rebates for water-wise products such as Cyber-Rain Smart Controller and artificial grass. Visit BeWaterWise.com for more information

    Learn about Armstrong Garden Center's Environmental Commitment 

    Related Article:
    Conserving Water in Your Garden


    See more articles about: waterwise, Gardening Basics, Garden Care

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