Maintaining a Beautiful Yard While Conserving Water
Being earth-conscious with your lawn comes with several benefits. For example, it can help you save money on your water bill, and it’s a wonderful way to contribute to a healthier planet. And in areas where water usage is limited, it allows you to comply with the law.
One of the best things about conserving water in your landscaping practices is that you don’t have to compromise your lawn’s beauty and health. This is a plus since, along with personal enjoyment, maintaining a beautiful property can significantly boost your home appraisal value and attract buyers if you ever decide to sell!
Earth-conscious brand Product Of My Environment is dedicated to promoting eco-friendly practices through our apparel. Below, we’ve provided some practical information and advice for caring for your lawn in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way.
Rainwater Catchment Systems
One of the best ways to recycle water for your household is to use a rainwater catchment system. Also known as rain barrels, these mechanisms attach to your gutters and collect rainwater, and you can use the harvested water for your plants. You can even drink the water if you treat it appropriately; this proves especially handy during emergencies.
Recycling Water in the Home
It's also a good idea to recycle some of the water you would typically waste inside your home. For instance, place a bucket or other container in your bathtub or sink as you wait for it to get warm. Or, save the water used for rinsing produce and boiling pasta to water your plants with. Think of any times you waste clean water, and try to save some of that water.
Be Intentional in Your Watering
Not every part of your plants needs watering. Typically, the roots are what matters the most. So, rather than watering your whole yard, aim for the roots of each plant by watering deeply. Since the deeper soil is cool, it will retain moisture during droughts. This will help you protect your plants and conserve water without sacrificing the beauty of your lawn. Moreover, if you water in the evening or early morning, less water will evaporate from the heat. Consider using a soaker hose in order to send water exactly where it needs to go.
Weeding
Everyone knows that weeds are a nuisance. Not only can they make an otherwise attractive landscape look unkempt, but they can also consume a significant amount of the water that you intend for your plants. Therefore, if you have a lot of weeds in your yard, you're required to use more water to keep your plants healthy. Be diligent about removing weeds to conserve water, and your plants won’t have to work so hard at getting the nutrients they need.
Mulching
One way to keep weeds at bay is to spread mulch in your planting beds and around your trees. Mulch also enhances soil quality, provides more nutrition to plants, and helps you conserve water (especially in summer). This is because sunlight makes the water in your soil evaporate, which means that you have to water your lawn more often to maintain moisture. Adding mulch will protect the topsoil from the sun, and you won’t have to water as often.
There are many ways to conserve water and still have an attractive, healthy lawn. Remember to look into rainwater catchment systems and find other ways to recycle water at home. Target your watering, keep weeds out of your yard, and apply mulch in any areas that need it. Not only will you save money, but you will also benefit the environment for everyone around you.
Guest Writer
Marcus Lansky
