 5
Step Plan for a Low Water Yard
It seems like many of our clients are already very aware of our need
to reduce water use in our landscapes, but for those of you yet to be
convinced, here's some background information that might put this in context:
The water content of the Sierra Nevada snow pack is at its lowest level
in nearly 20 years -- less than 40 percent of usual for this time of year,
state water officials say. Southern California gets most of its water
supply from the melting snow pack by way of the Colorado River. But the
state water agency isn't expecting shortages this summer because the reservoirs
are relatively full. If the next few years are equally as dry as the last
few years, we could be looking forward to restrictions imposed upon our
water usage.
The local chapter of the California Landscape Contractor's Association
(CLCA, the professional body for landscapers in California) has been working
with the local water authorities to create and implement a county wide
certification program that aims to ensure that all irrigation systems
installed in the landscape are as water efficient as possible.
The CLCA foresees a time when irrigation technicians will have to be
certified in order to install or repair any irrigation system. At a recent
chapter meeting, a representative from the water authority shared that
up to 60% of water is used in the landscape, and that since the majority
of the savings to be had inside the house have been covered, the authority
are turning their attention to the outside.
Clearly, this is an imporant issue that is getting more and more attention
every day. So, if you are a homeowner, you will want to know what specific
steps you can take to reduce your own water consumption in your landscape.
Five Step Plan to Reduce Water from The Yard Fairy
1. Limit or get rid of grass.
When you are planning your yard take a long hard look at how much lawn
area you really need. While grass looks pretty, it is very thirsty requiring
about 1 gallon of water per square foot per week.
San Diego County seems to average lawn sizes of about 2,000-4,000 square
feet, and at today's water prices they will typically cost $200 - $400
per year to irrigate. Studies done for the Arizona Department of Water
Resources show that for most family activities 600 square feet, or about
20ft by 30ft, of lawn is plenty. By reducing the size of the lawn in this
way, we can make a savings of nearly $140 -$280 per year on our water
bill.
Not only are lawns thirsty, they require regular mowing and fertilizing
to keep them looking good. It is estimated that 60% of the nitrogen applied
to lawns as fertilizer is leached into the groundwater as nitrate, and
for us in San Diego County that ends up in our ocean causing algae blooms
and general pollution, in addition to being a health hazard. Lawn mowing
not only depletes fossil fuels, but also emits pollutants and greenhouse
gases.
According to the California Air Resources Board, the burning of the fuel
needed to mow one lawn each year produces emissions equivalent to driving
350 miles. Annually, California lawn maintenance contributes pollutants
equal to 3.5 million 1991 automobiles driven 16,000 miles each.
Now, do you really need a huge swath of green grass? You could replace
it with mixed planter beds or low water ground cover.
2. Add more walkways or increase the size of your patio.
Only things that grow need water, so assuming your irrigation system
is not unnecessarily watering your drive or walkways (see step 3), another
step you can take is to increase the size of your hardscape. Many people
put up with small patios that never feel quite comfortable for dining,
conversation or just general relaxing. Often areas of the yard are inaccessible
because there no walkways that lead there. Such 'hardscape' elements in
a yard don't have to be concrete, indeed concrete will add to the cost
of your AC bill in the heat of summer.
Look for water permiable surfaces such as decomposed granite, flagstone
set on individual concrete pads, or pavers set on sand. While hardscape
is relatively expensive, it forms the bones of your yard, and it's worth
spending the time to plan and size it correctly.
3. Improve your Irrigation System.
Many irrigation systems are set up to water too frequently and for too
long given the type of plants and soil present. Traditional spray systems
are notorious for being badly adjusted so that they water areas that don't
need it. The water is often blown off course by the wind, and evaporation
is said to account for up to 30% to 50% of the water applied. Given these
factors, you can improve the efficiency of your irrigation system by converting
it to a modern drip system that delivers water directly to the soil at
a much lower application rate.
You can also install a 'smart' irrigation controller that automatically
adjusts the irrigation times based on the local weather conditions or
evpotranspiration (ET) rate. These smart controllers have been found to
provide significant savings:
Santa Barbara, CA: Initial data from a trial of climate-based "smart"
controllers in Santa Barbara County found that historically high water
usage customers reduced their monthly water use by approximately 26% through
the use of climate-based "smart" controllers, with some customers
saving as much as 59%. - Santa Barbara County ET Controller Distribution
and Installation Program, Final Report - June 30, 2003
4. Mulch your planter beds.
Mulch is a protective cover placed over the soil, primarily to modify
the effects of the local climate. A wide variety of natural and synthetic
materials are used, but our preferred suggestions are wood chip, bark
or rocks. We recommend that you apply mulch to a depth of about 2".
By doing this you not only reduce the evaporation of water from the soil
by approximately 50%, but you also suppress weeds, and help improve the
soil by adding organic matter.
5. Put water in its place.
A low water yard doesn't have to mean a no water yard. The addition of
a pond or water feature can have a cooling effect in the landscape and
the sound of running water is very soothing and can distract from annoying
environmental sounds. If you would like to have plants that love to live
in moist conditions, think about installing a bog garden - a planter area
lined with pond liner to hold in the moisture.
Call today for your consultation that will help you reduce water use in
your yard.
The Yard Fairy Inc introduces a new 'Mini Design' service
Our award winning design services are always very popular with our clients,
who are often surprised by the level of detail included in them. The resulting
set of plans produce 'ooh's and 'ah's when we present them, and they thrill
our clients with the creativity and innovation we've included in them.
Our clients are also very pleased to see how closely we've listened and
understood their needs and wishes. Some of our most recent innovations
include:
-
A pet friendly yard that included a pet relief area surrounded by
fragrant plants - automatic deodorization!
-
Architectural trellis panels to break up a plain stucco wall
-
A meditation platform for yoga
-
Bubbling rocks for a low maintenance water feature
-
A dog friendly shade, "lookout" and digging area
-
Colorful pots that highlight rock walls
-
Decorative focal points that compliment and add interest to the plants
Our newest 'Mini Design' service is perfect for those with smaller yards.
Often the options seem limited so our talented design team work with what
you have to bring about transformations that encourage you to get out
there and enjoy that 'extra room'.
Call today for your consultation that will help you reduce water use
or to have our design team create a unique outdoor space for you to enjoy
and relax in.
 
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