Logan Voss
Saving water doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice an amazing garden or farming area. Instead, you can maintain healthy plants and cut water usage by following a few steps. If you’re interested in this procedure, check out these great water-saving tips for irrigation systems.
Mulch the Garden Beds
Mulch is a great addition to gardens and farming areas. Along with beautifying a landscape, it provides fantastic water-saving benefits. Mulch reduces evaporation and will retain soil moisture. Meaning, after a watering cycle, the garden bed will hold water longer. Plant-based mulches also add organic materials that will improve water-holding.
Run Irrigation System in the Morning
You should run your irrigation system in the morning because the soil will retain water better at that time of day. In the morning, the temperature is cooler, and moisture is less likely to evaporate quickly. In addition to cooler weather, the wind isn’t heavy in the mornings, so water run-off is less likely to happen. Although cool weather also occurs at night, avoid watering your landscape in the evening because water sitting on plants will cause plant disease, especially in humid climates.
Put Automatic Sprinklers on a Timer
If your irrigation system uses automatic sprinklers, you should program a cycle timer. Program your sprinklers to run for two to three short cycles rather than a single long cycle. Doing so will allow water to soak into the ground between watering cycles. During long cycles, water only hits the surface of the turf. This causes excess buildup, and water will run to the sides. Once you start running short cycles, you will see turf improvement and save water simultaneously.
Maintain Check Valves
When people use irrigation systems, it’s critical to keep water on the landscape. Run-off water carries soil particles and lawn substances that can bring harmful chemicals to bodies of water like lakes and streams. Therefore, it’s essential to keep water flowing only on the landscape. You can keep water in the proper location by maintaining the check valve. One of the many purposes of a check valve in irrigation is to prevent leaks and water run-off.
If you’re a gardener or farmer, you understand the care plants need. You also realize how much water goes into hydrating your plants. As a result, you may want to cut back on your water usage. Luckily, you don’t have to sacrifice a beautiful landscape to save water. Always refer to our water-saving tips for irrigation systems for excellent suggestions.
