The Sacramento area continues to deal with water issues. Creating and maintaining your yard with water efficiency in mind is smart and cost effective. Here are some tips from the EPA to help you make the most out of your yard while maintaining a water efficient landscape.

Watering:

•Detect and repair all leaks in irrigation systems.

•Use properly treated wastewater for irrigation where available.

•Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day (early morning is best. Do not water on windy days.

•Water trees and shrubs, which have deep root systems, longer and less frequently than shallow-rooted plants which require smaller amounts of water more often. Check with the local extension service for advice on the amount and frequency of watering needed in your area.

•Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only—not the street or sidewalk.

•Use soaker hoses and trickle irrigation systems.

1. •Install moisture sensors on sprinkler systems.
   

Planting:

•Have your soil tested for nutrient content and add organic matter if needed. Good soil absorbs and retains water better.

•Minimize turf areas and use native grasses.

1. •Use native plants in your landscape—they require less care and water than ornamental varieties.
   

Maintaining:

•Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation from the soil surface and cut down on weed growth.

•Remove thatch and aerate turf to encourage movement of water to the root zone.

•Raise your lawn mower cutting height—longer grass blades help shade each other, cut down on evaporation, and inhibit weed growth.

•Minimize or eliminate fertilizing that requires additional watering, and promotes new growth that will also need additional watering.

Ornamental Water Features:

•Do not install or use ornamental water features unless they recycle the water. Use signs to indicate that water is recycled. Do not operate during a drought.

John Irwin is a professional landscaper in the Sacramento area and has been in business for more than 18 years. For more tips and strategies on creating the yard of your dreams visit www.royalgardenlandscaping.com