8 tips to make your landscape waterwise

Often the biggest single use of water by homeowners is for lawn and landscape irrigation. It is estimated that the typical suburban lawn consumes 10,000 gallons of water above and beyond the rain that falls each year. Waterwise is a style of landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment. The main objective is to match the right plants with your existing site conditions so that the use of additional resources - such as water, fertilizer, pesticides, and labor - is minimized. Waterwise landscapes not only save water, they also save time by requiring less routine care than most traditional landscapes. Follow these eight fundamentals for a waterwise landscape: 1. Group plants according to their water needs 2. Use native and low-water-use plants 3. Limit turf areas to those needed for practical uses 4. Use efficient irrigation systems 5. Schedule irrigation wisely 6. Make sure soil is healthy 7. Remember to mulch 8. Provide regular maintenance In short, plan and maintain your landscape with these principles of water efficiency in mind and it will continue to conserve water and look attractive. Using less water does not mean landscaping only with cacti and rocks! With a little planning, you can have a low-cost, low-maintenance landscape with healthy plants and turfgrass that can tolerate summer heat and drought conditions and thrive while using much less water. LANDSCAPE TODAY!! LANDSCAPING! LANDSCAPING! LANDSCAPING!