Landscape Irrigation Best Management Practices
Lush turf grass lawns are a familiar sight across the Midwest. However, these large patches of shallow-rooted greenscape consume a significant amount of water. By changing our habits and using water-saving tools, we can conserve this limited resource.
Water Saving Starts in Your Yard
Turf Grass: A Familiar but Thirsty Thief
On average 30 percent of Americans’ daily water consumption is outdoors.1
For most of us, that water is going straight to our lawns. A quarter-acre lawn (10,890 square feet) irrigated regularly can consume more than 13,000 gallons a week2. The average weekly in-home use of a family of four is estimated to be much lower – around 2,000 gallons3.
But it doesn’t have to be this way! Keep scrolling to learn how to save water through best practices …
Cultivating a Resilient, Water-Saving Lawn
The following tips prevent water waste and train your grass to grow deeper and more extensive root systems. Larger root systems ensure grass becomes more resilient and less sensitive to drought.
Does it Need Water?
Before you pull out the hose or adjust your irrigation system to increase watering, it’s important to understand when grass actually needs water – and when it doesn’t.
Brown can be OK: Grass species adapt to peak summer heat by refocusing energy on deepening root structures instead of producing bright green leaves. When your lawn starts to turn brown, that means it’s getting stronger!
Step on It: Step on the lawn – if the grass springs back, it doesn’t need water.
Water Early or Late
When you water your lawn is as important as how you water your lawn. A good rule of thumb is avoid watering during the hottest parts of the day. Most of the water will be lost to evaporation before reaching the roots.
Mornings are best, but if you must water in the evening, try to irrigate early enough to allow air drying before nightfall. Excessive wetness overnight can increase the chances for fungal or other plant disease.
Water Deeply and Infrequently
Reducing the frequency of watering while increasing the duration trains grass to develop deeper roots systems.
Deeper roots mean more resilient grass. The roots reach into a cooler and more consistently moist layer of the soil that isn’t subject to intense evaporation.
Let it Grow a Little
How often you mow can play a big role in water conservation. Mow strategically by cutting grass to no less than 3 inches in height, or no more than ⅓ the total height.
Longer grass blades provide more shade for the soil, keeping the ground moist longer. Allowing grass to grow taller also promotes larger and more substantial root systems.
Incorporate Water-Wise Tools
Simple modifications and/or additions to your irrigation equipment can make a big difference in water savings. Here are just a few suggestions:
Drip Irrigation: Slow and Steady
Consider incorporating drip or underground irrigation – these systems delivers hydration slowly and steadily straight to the roots.
Allowing water to slowly penetrate to deeper layers of soil reduces evaporation loss, and encourages more resilient and deeper roots.
Collect Water for Irrigation with Rain Barrels
A rain barrel is a large container designed to connect directly into a home gutter system to collect fresh water. This sealed system stores water for yard use, and can easily be connected into a drip irrigation system.
Local organizations like the Ottawa Conservation District host regular workshops on constructing your own rain barrel.
This article from MSU Extension also provides a great primer.
Irrigation System Tune-Up
When it comes to irrigation systems, a little maintenance can go a long way. Just one broken sprinkler can waste up to 25,000 gallons of water per season.4
Taking the time to inspect your system for leaks and misaligned sprinklers can result in significant water savings. Visit this Sprinkler Spruce-Up page for a comprehensive guide.
Rain Sensors and Other Smart Controllers
From simple analog tools to smart sensors, there are a wide array of devices homeowners can integrate into their irrigation systems to increase efficiency. Here are a few examples:
Rain sensors: One of the simplest and most inexpensive tools, these devices temporarily shut off irrigation systems when rain is detected.
Smart controllers: These devices use local weather data (rain, wind, and temperature), to automatically adjust watering schedules to current conditions.
Flow sensors: These measure the speed in which water flows through an irrigation system. Used in tandem with an irrigation controller, these sensors can detect leaks or other malfunctions.
For more product suggestions, visit the Irrigation Association’s Water-Efficient Products page.
Incorporate Regionally Appropriate, Water-Wise Plants
Traditional turf grass lawns are by far the largest consumer of water in most U.S. households. Transitioning sections of yard to low-impact landscaping alternatives such as native plants are one of the simplest ways homeowners can reduce their water use.
Native plants are species that naturally occur in a region. Because they are adapted to the local environment, they tend to thrive without our assistance. Many of these grasses, shrubs, and trees have roots that extend more than 10 feet deep, allowing them to pull moisture from below during dry summers.
From low-maintenance grasses to showy flowers and shrubs, there are hundreds of water-sipping plants to consider. Local organizations like the Ottawa Conservation District, MSU Extension, or local nonprofits like Restoration Earth can help get you started on mapping out possible garden layouts and choose the right mix of plants for your specific location.
For more details on incorporating native plants, including landscaping ideas and useful links, visit our Conservation Resources Page.
Photos courtesy of Restoration Earth
Community Action: Changing Hearts and Minds
Like so many initiatives, the key is leading through advocacy. The more community members take steps to change their lawn maintenance habits, the more these water-saving methods will catch on. Help us by educating others on the importance of irrigation best practices.
Footnotes:
1 Source: U.S. Outdoor Water Use, Environmental Protection Agency 2 Calculated for a typical irrigation system 3 Calculated for an average family of four 4 Source; EPA Spruce Up Your Sprinkler System graphic