By Jana
Ward
Saving water and enjoying the beauty and
environmental benefits of plants are not only possible, but
easy, says the American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) and
the Greater San Antonio Home Builders Association. "Water
Wise" gardening is built on the basic, common sense principles
of planning, improved soil, wise irrigation, mulching and
maintenance.
Planning a water wise garden or landscape is as
easy as planning any type of garden. Talk to professionals at
your local garden center, landscape firm or arboretum to see
what plants will do well in your area. The San Antonio
Water System (SAWS) also has a wealth of free information on
xeriscape, or water saver, landscaping as well as a rebate
offer. You can visit their website at www.saws.org or
call them at 704-7297. You may be surprised at the
variety of beautiful plants available that require little
water and will fit into your plans quite well.
Soil improvement is another easy and beneficial
step in building a water wise garden. Soil that is
well-prepared at the time of planting influences the plant's
initial development and yields the best results. Soil
characteristics to note include texture, structure, depth and
nutrients. A county extension agent or landscape professional
can help you define what kind of soil you have and what needs
to be done to improve it for best results.
Efficient irrigation is a critical part of water
wise gardening. Your irrigation system can be as simple as a
hand-held hose or as elaborate as an in-ground sprinkler
system. Whatever you choose, plan your watering to get the
best results. Deep infrequent watering promotes root growth
and is the wisest use of water. Drip soaker or deep root
watering promotes healthy plants with less water use. A drip
water conservation system can save up to 60 percent of the
water used by sprinkler irrigation.
Mulching can help prevent soil erosion and
conserves the water that is available, especially by reducing
water loss through evaporation. Maintaining your water wise
garden means learning how to water all over again. You may
find that watering less means having more time to enjoy your
garden.
Wise Water Gardening Checklist
· Condition the
soil. Water does not easily penetrate clay soil and passes too
quickly beyond the root zone in sandy soil.
· Group plants that
require the same amount of watering
together.
· Plant trees and
shrubs to provide shade to cool buildings, air conditioning
units, patios, decks and other landscape
features.
· Spike or aerate
lawns to ensure maximum water penetration.
· Control weeds
which compete with useful plants for water.
· Shelter container
plants by moving them to shady areas.
· Water late in the
evening or early in the day and on less windy days to reduce
evaporation loss. SAWS has clearly defined guidelines for
watering based upon the level of the aquifer. Check with
them for the current guidelines.
· Water less
frequently, but deeply and thoroughly, to encourage strong
rooting and provide greater tolerance to dry
spells.
· Turn off
sprinklers before water is wasted as runoff into gutters and
streets.
If you’ve been in your home for a while and
planted the traditional lawn, converting it to water wise
landscaping could be a major undertaking. You can
approach it as a long-term project, converting it yourself one
section at a time or hire a professional. A professional
landscaper can not only save you time in the yard, but will
also save you time in the research and design process by
providing in-depth knowledge and experience. Call the
Greater San Antonio Builders Association at 696-3800 for a
free copy of the Remodelors® Council Directory for a listing
of highly qualified professional landscape
companies.
