With summer in full swing, many Albertans enjoy this brief period where we can enjoy our yards. Enjoying a green lawn if you choose to keep one does not mean looking the other way on water consumption. With a few easy steps you can enjoy lush surroundings with minimal pressure on our water resources.

A few simple steps to reducing water consumption in the yard include:

• Keeping your grass three inches long. This shades its own roots from the scorching sun and choke out those pesky weeds and dandelions. It also holds moisture better, reducing watering needs.
• Collecting the rain in a rain barrel. Mother Nature can help you water your plants and save money. Plants like this softer, warmer, natural water better and you'll feel good about helping to reduce demand on your local river.
• Water only when you need to. Just one inch of water over the week, including rainfall, is all your lawn needs to stay healthy. Use a rain gauge or place a Frisbee upside down on your lawn while you are watering to measure the one inch (2.5 cm) your lawn needs over the week.
• Water in the morning. Use a sprinkler timer and set it for first thing in the morning. You won't forget to turn off the water, and it won't evaporate in the heat of the day.
• Consider water wise gardening. If you are you looking for more ways to kick back and relax outside this summer, consider a low-maintenance water wise lawn and garden. A water-wise garden means less watering, less weeding, and less fertilizing. That leaves more time for enjoying your yard and more savings on water bills.

The average Canadian uses over 10,000 litres of water each month. There are several areas inside and outside the home where you can incorporate simple water conservation strategies. Click here for more water wise tips.

We support the Unilever GO BLUE campaign, an initiative that encourages Canadians to cut their water use in half.

Sources

Water Services, City of Calgary. 2009. Lawn and Garden — Every Drop Counts. City of Calgary. (Accessed July 9th, 2009)