April 5, 2005 Weekly Water Saving Tip

As always, deep and infrequent irrigation is important. This type of irrigation will encourage deep roots. The best time to water is in the early morning while the evaporation is at its lowest point and the pressure of the irrigation system will be at its best peak performance. With the cooler temperatures and moisture we are receiving, you should still be able to irrigate every 7 to 10 days. But, before going out and turning on the water, check and make sure the soil's surface has dried down one to two inches. Then, after irrigating check the roots of your lawn and make sure the moisture has reached them. If not, you need to run your system longer. Add some more time and then check again. Also, if you notice runoff during irrigation, turn off the system and wait for about an hour and then repeat this pattern until the full irrigation time has been met. The objective is to get the water down as quickly as possible without runoff.

If you are truly interested in conserving water and having an acceptable landscape, you must spend time in your yard. Observation and knowledge of your garden is the key to water conservation. Get in the habit of checking your sprinkler system regularly to insure that it is working properly. In addition, keep weeds out of your garden; they compete for water with the other plants.

The Weekly Water Saving is provided to Washington County Water Conservancy District by Dr. Frank Williams of the BYU Horticulture Department. For more information, call Julie Breckenridge at 673-3617.