Saving Water Through Landscaping this Summer
by Lauren Victor
In Utah, we are lucky enough to have access to water while living in the middle of a desert. With the climate changing and the Salt Lake City Valley population growing each year, the demand for water from our local Wasatch Mountains is increasing greatly. With the heat setting in quickly this summer, and with record highs predicted, one thing you can do to ease the pressure on the watershed is to conserve water through your landscape.
Conserving water does not mean your lifestyle needs to completely change, just take a look at the tips and links below to find out ways you can save water without losing the aesthetic of your garden!
Quick tips to start conserving water right now:
- Mow your lawn high – Mowing turf high encourages roots to sink deep, which means the lawn won’t need watering as often.
- Water plants/lawn in the early morning to avoid the water being evaporated by the sun in the midday heat.
- Replace hose washers and fix/tighten any leaks within watering systems.
- Use a broom to clear off patios instead of running a hose.
- Recycled household water from steaming vegetables, cooking pasta, leftover drinking water to water your garden.
- Mulch your garden. Mulching is a great way to retain moisture.
- Install a rain gauge to avoid watering if storms have provided enough water.
- Use Utah native plants that have low requirements for water!
Below are some Utah native options:
Pictures from Conservation Garden Park
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- Harriman Yucca – Shrub Irrigation Requirement: Very Low
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- Firecracker Penstemon Irrigation Requirement: Very Low
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- Desert Willow – Deciduous Tree Irrigation Requirement: Very Low
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- Tulip Pricklypear – Cactus/Succulent Irrigation Requirement: Very Low
For more helpful information check out The Conservation Garden Park. It is a great resource to get landscaping help, find water-wise plants, and sign up for events and classes!
More Resources:
http://waterwiseutah.org/outdoor.htm
slcGreen Blog 
Very helpful! Thanks for the conservation tips!
Very cool!! Great ideas!! Water is going to become a bigger and bigger issue in the coming years
Very cool!! Great ideas!!
What does moderation mean?
Moderation in terms of watering our landscape would be to use only as much as your plants need in order to be healthy and vibrant. Tips here! http://waterwiseutah.org/outdoor.htm
I really like the idea of mulching the garden to retain moisture. We live in Arizona where it is extremely dry and have been looking for ways to make sure our plants survive. Thank you for the helpful landscaping tips!