Emily's Gardening Almanac Timely Tips from a Professional Gardening Expert

Water-Wise Landscaping

A Water-Wise landscape will require a minimal amount of water irrigation. When irrigation is used in a Water-Wise landscape, the water will be applied efficiently and effectively to make every drop count. To produce a Water-Wise landscape, proper planning and design are important.

Plants Don’t Waste Water, People DO!

Irrigation systems do not waste or save water, people do.

Water only the landscape. Do not water the sidewalk, driveway, street or house. Make sure all of your sprinklers, hoses and/or irrigation systems are working properly.

A thorough, deep watering of the soil once a week is better than frequent, light waterings. Deep thorough watering encourages deep root systems while light, frequent watering encourages shallow root systems.

Set water priority needs for each plant. Trees, shrubs and vegetables are the most important part of your landscape. Lawns, annuals and perennials should receive the lowest priority for watering.

During periods of extended drought, many established plants “shut down” and cease growing or flowering. The quality of the plants may decrease. Accept this “less than perfect” appearance and do not try to force the plant out of this “self-protection.”

Established lawns and turf should be watered once per week with 1 inch of water. In sandy soils, centipede grass can be watered ½” every 4 days. Early morning is the best time to water turf because it reduces the loss of water through evaporation and reduces the risk of disease.

No established plant or lawn needs to be watered every day.

One inch of water once a week is generally recommend for maintaining a viable landscape including vegetables, turf, trees and flowers.

Follow these four steps to a Water-Wise Landscape

Proper Plant Selection

• Select plants according to their light (sun or shade) and water needs.
• Incorporate shade – plant trees or use structures for shade in the landscape. A shaded landscape can be 20ºF cooler than a landscape in full sun.
• Plants should be divided into 3 water use zones:
  • High - requiring regular watering
  • Moderate - requiring occasional watering
  • Low - requiring natural rainfall
• Know the mature size of the plants you plan to use in your landscape
• Space plants so they can achieve their mature size without being crowded. Crowding will increase the potential for water stress. ? Using a variety of native and adapted plants is healthy for your landscape. A diverse group of plants attracts a variety of beneficial insects, birds and butterflies and produces a landscape less susceptible to insect and disease damage.

Proper Planting

• A properly planted landscape will be more tolerant of adverse conditions.
• Analyze your soil with a soil test provided by the NCDA.
• In clay soil, it is best to add compost or organic matter to the planting area to improve drainage and soil aeration. Do not add peat moss or sand.
• It is recommended to prepare entire planting beds and not just individual holes.
• The most important aspect of planting trees, shrubs and flowers is the planting depth.
• It is better to plant in a raised manner if you have compacted soil.

Proper Maintenance

• A 2-4 inch layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture.
• Mulch will insulate the root system of plants from heat and help control weeds.
• Proper plant selection according to mature size will reduce required maintenance.
• Proper pruning at the proper time will help avoid unnecessary plant stress. Pruning will stimulate new growth which will increase demand for water so avoid pruning during water shortages.
• Apply fertilizer according to soil test results.
• When water is scarce, do not fertilize. Fertilizers are chemical salts and may damage roots if soil is dry and adequate water is not available. READ ALL LABEL DIRECTIONS!
• Using pesticides during heat and drought can increase plant injury or reduce plant tolerance.

Proper Irrigation

• Irrigation should be applied in zones so that the plants with different water needs are irrigated separately.
• Turfgrass should be watered separately from shrubs and flowers.
• Sprinkler irrigation can be used for watering turf.
• Soaker hoses or drip irrigation should be used for vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees. You will have less evaporation and runoff with soaker hoses or drip irrigation. These types of irrigation will prevent the leaves from becoming wet. Keeping leaves dry may prevent some diseases.
• Hand watering is the most effective and efficient way to applying water to newly planted plants or plants showing signs of stress during dry periods.
• If you have a runoff problem when watering, apply half the water needed, turn the irrigation off for an hour or two, and then apply the remainder of water.
• Know the signs of water stress. Some shrubs will have leaves that wilt. Turf will appear dull bluish green, the leaf blades roll inward and footprints remain on the grass.

Visit the following web sites for more gardening information and helpful tips:

Urban Horticulture, NCSU
Extension's Successful Gardener^sm

For informaton concerning this or other publications please contact Emily Revels, Extension Agent, Horticulture, at (910) 321-6870.

Created by Susan Johnson, System Administrator, May 2005