Conserving Water = Conserving Money

1. Water Late or Water Early. The best time to water your landscape is between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.

2. Water Efficiently. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses for trees, shrubs, and flowerbeds. Sprinklers should be used on lawn areas.

3. Water Thoroughly and Decrease Water Flow. A through soaking of the soil once a week is much better for plants than light, frequent watering that encourages shallow rooting.

4. Raise Mower Height. Mowing often enough to remove no more than 1/3 of leaf tissue at each cutting will reduce water demand.

5. Consider Drought Tolerant Plants. Many of Georgia’s native plants, and most introduced species, once established, are inherently drought tolerant. Consider these plants when designing a new landscape.

6. Mulch to Conserve Water. Mulching not only conserves soil moisture, but also helps prevent weeds that compete for water.

7. Avoid Unnecessary Plant Stress. Improper fertilization techniques, and pruning can put unnecessary stress on a plant and make it more susceptible to damage from insects and disease.

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Water Conservation at Home

S Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering plants or cleaning.

S Rather than flushing the toilet unnecessarily, dispose of tissues, insects and other similar waste in the trash.

S Check the toilet for leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.

S Take shorter showers, consider turning the water off when you are not rinsing.

S Don’t leave the water running while shaving or brushing your teeth.

S Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run to get a cool glass of water.

S Fully load your automatic dishwasher. It uses the same amount of water regardless of the amount of dishes.

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Watering Ban Survival Guide

Gwinnett County is still under an outdoor watering ban. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your outdoor watering:

S Water your lawn between 10PM and 8AM. There is less evaporation at these times, so plants will make the most efficient use of the water.

S Thoroughly soaking the soil once a week is much better for plants than light, frequent watering that encourages shallow rooting.

S Mowing often enough to remove no more than 1/3 of the leaf tissue at each cutting will reduce water demand.

S When designing a new landscape, try to save the native species when possible. They are usually well adapted to the site and have a high degree of resistance to environmental stress.

S Avoid unnecessary plant stress by using proper fertilization techniques. Improper fertilization may damage roots and prevent water absorption.

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