In California, over 50 percent of residential water usage takes place outdoors. A typical lawn takes in about 57 inches of rain per year, based on data from the Association of California Water Agencies. No matter if your home has a little yard in Laguna Beach or a full acre in San Juan Capistrano, the goal is to keep your lawn lush and green — so how can that be accomplished during the dry weather months in Southern California?
The Orange County Water District (OCWD) agrees that a person’s lawn is able to stay green and in good condition all year long with these simple economically proven tips.
1) Don’t water your lawn. This is probably the opposite of what you think is necessary, but the grass will just die if your area is suffering from a drought. If your HOA mandates you to water your lawn—water only when you see evidence of drought stress; a continuous loss of water in the soil due to atmospheric conditions which causes the grass to bend at the top. If you notice that happening, immediate irrigation is needed.
2) Make sure the sprinkler system is working efficiently. The majority of sprinkler systems come with smart timers to adjust the time and frequency of watering. To optimize it even more, adjust the flow rate and spray patterns so that water isn’t being wasted sue to over-spray or under-spray that results in dry spots. Moreover, make sure the nozzles don’t produce drops that are too large or too small.
3) Collect rainwater with rain barrels. Back in 2015, rain barrels bought for $85, had a $75 rebate from Municipal Water District of Orange County, so that made the final cost at $10 per barrel with a limit of four (4) barrels per household to get the rebate1. So, you may be able to still buy them at a deep discount. When the barrel is full of rainwater, distribute it over your lawn using a hose with a efficient nozzle or hook it up to your sprinkler system.
4) Recycle indoor water. Water your lawn with water that’s been reclaimed from inside your home, also known as gray water. Put a bucket in the shower and sink to capture excess water. This will decrease your water consumption, and by watering your trees and plants with gray water, this can also help cool your home year after year, another way to conserve natural resources.
5) Start to compost. Place vegetable and leaf remnants into an outside bin. You can also include lawn clippings, and cardboard. Do not compost weeds, ivy, diseased plants, or acidic citrus fruit. Once you’ve done this with care regularly and it’s loaded up, you can sprinkle some throughout your lawn to keep it nourished. By adding compost to your landscape, it increases the fertileness of your soil and its capacity to hold water by as much as 7 times.
6) Find out what the weather forecast will be before cutting your lawn. The best time to cut your lawn is when the chance for rain is high in the next two days.
7) Make sure your lawnmower blade is at high setting to keep the grass relatively tall. You want the grass to remain somewhat tall so it can provide shade and protection for the ground in order to preserve water. When your grass is too short, the lawn can quickly dry out due to the fact there isn’t any shade coverage.
8) Use a lawnmower that mulches. A lawnmower that takes in grass and chops it up into small pieces produces an excellent mulch that’s sprinkled over the lawn while it’s being mowed. This provides nutrients for your lawn and soil.
9) Plant shade trees for the long-term. Once your shade trees are tall, they can obstruct most of the sunlight from punishing your lawn during the dry periods with high temps and Santa Ana winds. The result will be lower water consumption and needing to cut your lawn less. Make sure to plant shade trees where the sun sets in the afternoon when it is at its maximum temperature.
1. https://huntingtonbeachca.gov/announcements/announcement.cfm?id=795