How to Reduce Landscape Irrigation

 

Make every plant count! Each plant uses water. In the desert, water is precious. Chinese pistache at the Springs Preserve.

 

Make Each Plant Individual and Important!

Minimize the number of big plants in a landscape. Water is a scarce resource in the desert. Its price will always increase. Lowering landscape temperatures and irrigation go hand in hand. If water is used wisely, temperatures will decrease where water is applied. Plants always require water when growing in the desert. Wherever plants are planted in the landscape, water is needed. As they get bigger, they require more water applied further from the plant. Large mature sized plants require more and more water as they grow bigger and bigger.

Every plant needs water. As plants get bigger, they need more water. Can you accomplish the same purpose by using fewer plants?

Do Three Things

Do three things to your landscape to become efficient in its water use; preserve only the plants that provide you and your home the most cooling and pleasure, improve the irrigation system, and learn how to water. The last one, “learn how to water”, should be first. Learning how to water landscape plants enlightens the others.

Shade from a small deciduous tree falling on the south windows and walls of the home can reduce energy costs for air conditioning by 20 to 25%.

Shade South and West Sides

Shade the south and west sides, walls and windows of your home and outside sitting areas. This type of irrigation creates “oasis landscapes”, perfect for the desert. Plan to apply the most water to “oasis” areas. Trees and shrubs provide the most cooling for homes and sitting areas. There is nothing wrong with open areas, but they will be hotter. Make these open areas interesting to look at.

Sometimes being creative in your design can save water. Here a trellised plant provides shade on the opening of a door.

Make Shade from Nonplants

Shade doesn’t have to come from plants. Shade also comes from man-made structures. Concrete and steel structures are the best choices for desert climates and don’t use water. There is nothing wrong with artwork in landscapes. Consider man-made structures in combination with vines or smaller plants instead of trees. Small plants use less water than big plants. Where are large plants found in the desert?

An arbor covered with a vine uses less water than a tree.

Drip Irrigation May Not Be for YOU

Drip irrigation is among the most efficient ways of irrigating plants. But if you don’t know how to use it, it’s no better than flooding the landscape with water. Plants growing above 3 feet tall should be watered less frequently. Roots of tall plants will find water applied to the smaller plants and adjust their root growth to where water is applied in these areas.

Basin irrigation can be just as efficient as drip irrigation. Keep the floor of the basins flat and the sides in repair.

Take Charge of Watering!

A well-designed irrigation system and the knowledge how to use it puts you in charge of watering rather than the landscape telling you when it needs water.

Take charge of your irrigation and plant growth and you can have what you want and afford it.