Water is becoming a more valuable commodity every year, especially in the Western states and California, where demand is higher than ever and draught is becoming a real problem. Most people do not associate automated sprinkler and irrigation systems with water savings, yet that is one of the benefits of installing and maintaining a modern water distribution system for your yard, flower gardens, flowering trees and bushes and vegetable and fruit gardens.

Designing a system to make more efficient use of water (i.e., using less water) is not hard, but it does take a bit of forethought and a well-designed and executed sprinkler and irrigation system. The first step to reducing water consumption is looking at the plants you are choosing – these will include:

Grass Types

Fruit and Vegetable Varieties

Flowering Bushes and Tree Types

To most people, a thick lawn of healthy green grass is the main feature of the lawn, but when you look at the most interesting and beautiful lawns it is easy to see that there are many features which take up space while providing color, shade, texture and more. This includes natural barriers and traditional and non-traditional garden plots.

For instance, corn is one of the thirstiest plants around, whereas tomatoes do much better with a drier soil (in fact, the best way to weaken a tomatoes’ flavor or kill the plant is to over water it).

In the same way, the traditional lawn of blue grass is one of the most water intensive grasses you can choose. Not only does this mean using more water, but if water restrictions are put into place which exceed the bluegrass’ minimum need, it will quickly turn brown and sickly looking.

Some of the better varieties of grasses are Bermuda, Zoysia and Buffalo grass – and St. Augustine Grass is an excellent choice for those shady portions of your lawn.

Another great technique for reducing the amount of traditional lawn and making your yard more interesting and attractive is establishing specific areas for different types of plants. If you are lucky enough to have a yard that offers good shade pools (from trees or other natural sources) you can make great use of these, but even if you do not have any shade trees or other shade producing features it is easy to establish small areas – for instance, rock gardens and shade gardens which use lattice roofs to provide shade for small outdoor sitting and recreational areas.

English Ivy, which is a great drought tolerant plant, can be grown over these lattices to make an excellent quick shady spot for you and your family to enjoy. In the same way, pampas grass, Liriope. Sea Oats and Fountain Grass can be used to define borders and make natural barriers that reduce the amount of green lawn while making your yard more interesting and beautiful.

Local and drought resistant flowering plants, trees and shrubs can also be grouped to provide year round color and texture to your yard, making it a place of beauty and refuge. Once your plant choices have been made, the next step is designing and maintaining an efficient sprinkler and irrigation system.

It is a myth that sprinkler systems use more water – if properly installed and maintained, they will use less water and keep your grass, flowering plants and vegetables healthier than ever. This is achieved through a more efficient water distribution pattern than watering by hand, making sure the water is applied at the most efficient times of day, and using micro watering techniques such as drip irrigation for flowers, flowering shrubs and vegetable and fruit gardens.

Read the Reviews Sprinkler Repair companies have on their web sights, Facebook pages and from other sources, including Sprinkler Repair Guy Reviews, and consult with the company you choose on the best way to reduce your water consumption while making sure your lawn and living area look better than ever!

 

To find a qualified sprinkller and irrigation company, check out the Sprinkler Repair Guy Reviews and the Reviews Sprinkler Repair companies have.