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Water Conservation Information

 

A Practical Guide to Using and Conserving Water in the Garden, by Susan McClure, Workman Publishing, 2000.

City of Albuquerque, NM, Water Conservation Office, for information and free copies of booklets and brochures on xeriscape and many aspects of water conservation, go to www.cabq.gov/waterconservation/form.html.

Colorado Water Wise Council, http://coloradowaterwise.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=88&Itemid=145 Learn about Colorado xeriscape and water conservation tips. Terrific links section!

Denver Water, www.denverwater.org . Learn all about xeriscape from the people who came up with the name and concept. Go to section on Conservation and Xeriscape for information. Brochures and books are also available for purchase.

Drip Irrigation for Every Landscape and All Climates, by Robert Kourik, Metamorphic Press, 1992. Chock full of information on installing a drip system.

Drip Works Catalog, catalog and internet supplier of drip systems. Call for free catalog, a good source of information. 800-522-3747, or go to www.dripworks.com.

Ewing Irrigation, 6664 Canyon Drive. Supplies Netafim drip system components for under ground and under mulch systems.

New Mexico Water Use and Conservation Bureau, 1-800-WATER-NM, or www.ose.state.nm.us. Offers many free publications on various aspects of water conservation. Click on Conservation, then Water Use and Conservation, then NM Water Conservation Program, then Education and Public Information for free printable material.

Southwest Colorado Water Conservancy District, www.secwcdxeriscape.org. Information and links related to water-use efficiency.

Southern Nevada Water Authority, click on http://www.snwa.com/html/cons_wsl_xeriscape.html   for the final and complete report of the Xeriscape Conversion Study and other helpful yard tips.

Texas Water Development Board, P. O. Box 13231 Capitol Station, Austin TX 78711. www.twdb.state.tx.us. Go to Publications, then brochures to order free brochures, or peruse site for other information.

Angie Hanna

Basic Gardening Principles (Xeriscape Principles)

  1. Plan and design
  2. Analyze and amend the soil
  3. Create practical turf areas
  4. Efficient use of water
  5. Choose appropriate plants
  6. Use mulches
  7. Practice appropriate maintenance

Ecologically Friendly

  • Plant best adapted species
  • Plant in preferred season
  • Balance mineral content of soil
  • Build and maintain soil organic content—humus
  • Do not harm beneficial soil life
  • Consider insects and diseases as symptoms of a violation of one of the above guidelines.

Water Conservation Tips

  • Group plants together according to water needs.
  • Create xeristrips for narrow beds and beds bordered by asphalt and concrete.
  • Maximize water runoff from rooftops.
  • Space plants further apart and mulch in between
  • Amend soil with organic matter for better water retention.
  • Avoid mounds and berms in lawns.
  • Mow high, more frequently.
  • Use a mulch mower.
  • Aerate yearly to reduce compaction, increase absorption.
  • Limit high water-use turf to 1/3 of landscape.
  • Create trenches, crescents, saucers and swales for high water-use plants.
  • Water longer, less frequent.
  • Cycle and soak for clay soils on slopes.
  • Mulch all beds.
  • Use the ET rate to determine water schedule.
  • Buy a rain gauge.
  • Monitor soil moisture.
  • Monitor appearance of plants for signs of wilting.
  • Irrigate before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
  • Irrigate on calm days.
  • Avoid watering concrete and asphalt.
  • Switch to fall planting.
  • Install a water catchment system.
  • Water to the depth of root zone, and a little beyond.
  • Plant favorite high water-use perennials in containers.
  • Plant drought tolerant, non-cold hardy perennials in containers.
  • Use surfactants and water holding polymers.
  • Install an under ground or under mulch drip irrigation system.
  • Conduct a tune-up on irrigation systems.
  • Install a timer on manual irrigation systems.
  • Choose sprinkler heads that spray close to the ground.
  • Choose sprinklers that produce droplets, not mist.

Area Conditions

The climate and conditions for the

Texas High Plains area are:

•USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 6 (-10° to 0°), some areas may be Zone 7 (0° to 10°+).

•AHS Heat Zone 8 (90 – 120 days above 85°).

•A semi-arid region, subject to sudden cloudbursts when it does rain.

•Occasional damaging hail.

•Windy conditions throughout the year.

•Hot, searing sun.

•Periods of abnormally high temperatures (above 93°)

•Cloudless conditions in summer and winter.

•Low humidity.

•Rapid temperature shifts.

•Alkaline soil conditions.

•Sandy, compact clay and/or caliche soil. Hardpan soil conditions may be present.

•Low organic content in the soil.

•Saline or sodic soils.

•Increasing saline irrigation water.

Water-Use Definition

Minimum requirement during the growing months in properly prepared clay and caliche soil during average climate conditions. Supplement if the amount is not naturally received, and when extreme conditions warrant.

  • Low: one inch a month
  • Medium: one inch every two weeks
  • High: one inch each week.