With another scorching Southern Nevada summer now in full swing, there’s no time like the present to learn how to help your landscape survive these hot months—and what steps you can take to save water this season.
While you may be tempted to overwater your plants and trees this summer, the fact is, most desert-adapted, water-efficient landscapes can stay green and healthy with less water than you might think.
In fact, drip-irrigated trees and plants can thrive when watered on a recommended four-day-a-week schedule. Keep in mind, it’s important to monitor your landscape’s health as the mercury rises; if necessary, add an extra emitter or increase run times as weather conditions dictate.
Because drip irrigation delivers water slowly and efficiently, it should run less often—but for longer periods—than sprinkler systems. For trees, it’s especially important to water deeply. Drip-irrigated trees should be watered long enough for moisture to reach 18 to 24 inches deep into the soil, which encourages strong root growth. The exact run time will depend on your soil type, emitter flow rate, and current weather. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) offers tips at snwa.com to help you avoid overwatering your plants and trees. Remember—drip it, don’t drown it!
If you still have grass, water your lawn with sprinklers for a maximum of 12 minutes per watering day, in three four-minute cycles spaced one hour apart. You may be surprised to learn that, while this doesn’t sound like a lot, it’s all the water your grass really needs. Grass can be watered up to a maximum of six days a week (there is no watering on Sunday).
The community’s mandatory summer watering schedule, in effect through Aug 31, prohibits irrigation between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., when water can be lost to high heat and winds. Also, watering during prohibited hours or allowing water to spray or flow off your property could result in a costly water-waste fine—and nobody wants that.
For more summer landscape care tips and other water- and money-saving suggestions, visit snwa.com.