Congratulations to this week’s winners!
- Angie Mastrocola of Dallas, TX
- Linda Girdner of Tustin, CA
- Mark Lerch of Venice, FL
- Chris Gleissner of Englewood, CO
- Susan Drews of Westlake Village, CA
- Toby Smith of Austin, TX
- Kelly Furr of Atlanta, GA
You have each won a Hunter® Wireless Rain-Clik™ rain sensor as part of our 100 Ways, 100 Days campaign. You are among the 100 winners who won’t be running your sprinklers in the rain this coming wet season and reaping the benefits. Everyone else – get on board and let the water savings pour in! Saving water doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Check back every Monday through early November for a weekly list of water-saving tips you can apply to your property.
Tips 58-64
- Keep your mower blades sharp: a dull blade makes the turf more disease prone, which will cause you to apply too much water. Sharpening your blades 4 -6 times a year is the norm. When was the last time you sharpened your blade?
- Cut no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade each time you mow. Mowing too low restricts root growth. We want good root growth so the turf can get to water deeper in the soil.
- Use a fertilizer injector. This gives you the opportunity to fertilize while you water. Eliminating the watering in of fertilizer after you hand fertilize.
- Look for spots in your landscape that are greener or seem to be extra wet all the time. Small leaks below the soil are a huge water waster. These are easy to spot and most of the time easy to fix. You just can’t be afraid of little digging.
- Turn down the flow control on your valve if you observe misting. Most people think of the valve as just an on-off switch. If you have misting when your irrigation is running you can turn the valve down and visually observe the reduction in misting. Adjust the valve and see when the irrigation is operating most efficiently.
- Consider the wind when you water. If you are experiencing moderate to heavy winds see if you can wait a day to water. This way you will be sure most of the water hits your landscape where you want it to.
- Shade is very cool in your garden. Cooler temperatures mean less evaporation of water from the soil and less water use in the garden. Be sure you have plenty of shade for your landscape.