How To Design a Water Efficient Garden
In many areas of the States, water use for irrigation exceeds indoor consumption, averaging more than 50% of total residential consumption in the U.S. So, while installing water-efficient fixtures inside a home is an important step toward water efficiency, addressing outside use should be at the top of your list, especially if your projects are in drought-prone locations.
But where outfitting a home with efficient bath fixtures is pretty straight forward, designing and installing water-efficient landscaping and irrigation can be complex. And while such a landscape need not be brown or austere, it should combine a mix of plantings and irrigation components that will minimize the amount of water needed to maintain an inviting environment.
Designing a landscape to conserve water—xeriscaping—requires choosing plants that will thrive in your region and your project’s particular microclimate; limiting the turf areas; making sure the soil on site will promote water absorption and deep root growth; and, if irrigation is installed, using an efficient system.
You don’t want to grade and clear the whole site; instead, cordon off and preserve areas that have value in terms of drainage and plants.” Also in the early stages, commit to losing some lawn. Some local and regional governments offer financial incentives to reduce the size of irrigated lawns, and in some places maximum allowable turf areas are regulated.
The EPA’s WaterSense program for single-family homes recommends limiting turf area to a maximum of 40% of the site, balancing the rest of the landscaping with drought-resistant plantings and permeable surfaces. WaterSense also recommends treating slopes in excess of 4:1 with vegetation that will help keep stormwater from running off the site, and covering exposed soil areas in planting b eds with a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch.
WATER WISELY
Irrigation systems should include separate zones to accommodate different watering requirements, drip irrigation for plant beds, and rotating sprinkler heads for turf areas that should be laid out to avoid duplicate coverage and watering paved areas and buildings. Surface runoff can be reduced by keeping the precipitation rate from sprinklers below the soil’s infiltration rate, and establishing different zones for the tops and toes of slopes.
Overwatering is a major problem, according to results of a new EPA water-use study. In fact, 62% of the homes in the national study exceeded the theoretical irrigation requirements (TIR) for their sites by as much as 187%—mostly due to owner error in setting and maintaining timer based controllers. The Irrigation Association’s (IA) Smart Water Application Technologies (SWAT) program, a partnership between water utilities and industry representatives, promotes the use of “smart” irrigation control technology that uses climate, site, horticultural, and/or soil moisture information to adjust irrigation to conditions on the site. Case studies carried out by the IA suggest that systems that use smart controllers can reduce water use by 20% to 40% compared to more tradition methods.
The Irrigation Association’s (IA) Smart Water Application Technologies (SWAT) program, a partnership between water utilities and industry representatives, promotes the use of “smart” irrigation control technology that uses climate, site, horticultural, and/or soil moisture information to adjust irrigation to conditions on the site. Case studies carried out by the IA suggest that systems that use smart controllers can reduce water use by 20% to 40% compared partners
LET IT RAIN
In areas where rainwater is available and local regulations allow, rainwater harvesting is gaining attention as an alternative source of irrigation water. These systems can be as simple as a rain barrel connected to a soaker hose or as sophisticated as a large under- ground cistern connected to a pressurized irrigation distribution system.
The more complex systems require components that might be new to irrigation contractors, including debris excluders; first-flush diverters; quiescent inlets; floating inlets; and the controls, filters, and disinfection systems designed specifically for the catchment system volume.
The amount of water that can be harvested is determined by calculating the size of the roof area and the typical amount of rainfall. In some places, due to water rights issues and health and safety concerns, water harvesting is closely regulated, but already is gaining attention as an alternative source of irrigation water.
These systems can be as simple as a rain barrel connected to a soaker hose or as sophisticated as a large under- ground cistern connected to a pressurized irrigation distribution system. The more complex systems require components that might be new to irrigation contractors, including debris excluders; first-flush diverters; quiescent inlets; floating inlets; and the controls, filters, and disinfection systems designed specifically for the catchment system volume.
The amount of water that can be harvested is determined by calculating the size of the roof area and the typical amount of rainfall. In some places, due to water rights issues and health and safety concerns, water harvesting is closely regulated. But as more and more people realize the possible water shortages we could face over the coming years the idea of water harvesting may be seen as a key component in how we use our water reserves more efficiently.
This is a guest post by Neil from My Garden Hammock. A site dedicated to making the most of your outdoor space and taking the time to enjoy it to the fullest. The site also provides a wealth of information on garden hammocks and his favourite type the mexican hammocks
