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Resource Conservation No matter how much or how little rainfall we get each year, it's always an excellent idea to 'PROactively' conserve our limited resources. Below are some helpful ideas for your home and lawn. - Lawns use more water than households, as more than 50 percent of the water we use in the summer months goes to outdoor watering. But, did you know your lawn can survive with only ½ to ¾ inches of water per week?
- A leaky faucet can waste 2,700 gallons of water each year, so be sure to fix any leaks you may have.
- Over 75 percent of the water we use inside our homes is in the bathroom. By cutting down on your shower time, you could save five to 10 gallons for every minute by which you decrease your shower time.
- Consider xeriscaping your lawn with slow-growing plants instead of landscaping it. Selecting more water-efficient or 'unthirsty' plants for your lawn, like drought tolerant exotics, can dramatically decrease the amount of water and waste your lawn creates. This technique will require a lot of careful planning and will need to be compatible with the resources available in your area. There are many excellent sources and ideas for xeriscaping available on the Web. Simply Google the term and you'll be on your way to a more efficient, resource-friendly lawn.
- Allow your sprinklers to run at night or in the cool morning hours. Generally running them between the hours of 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. is a good rule to follow. You should keep in mind however, that running them on an automated schedule can be wasteful, so only water when necessary.
- Water the brown spots in your lawn by hand instead of watering the entire lawn. And, accept that there will be some brown spots. Minimize traffic in these areas of your lawn can reduce damage.
- Many commercial car washes recycle the water they use, so consider washing your car at one of these places. Even if the car wash doesn't recycle its water, you'll still be using much less water than by washing your car yourself.
- Add mulch around your trees and plants. By adding four inches or more, you'll reduce weeds, temperature fluctuations and watering needs of your plants.
- Make sure your mower deck height is set to three or four inches and leave the grass clippings on the lawn. During days of little rain and high heat, these clippings will help protect the lawn.
- Because young trees are still trying to establish a strong root system they require more frequent watering than do older ones. It is a good idea to check the soil and the leaf condition for watering requirements, but a general guideline is as follows: once per week for temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees; twice per week for temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees; and three times per week on days above 90 degrees. A plant's root zone, once established, generally extends just beyond the longest branches so water accordingly after the first and second year.
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