Lawns & Gardens 

In the summer, we use up to 50% more water than during the rest of the year, most of which goes to our lawns and gardens.

But without proper care and attention, much of this extra water is wasted. Using water wisely doesn't just reduce your water bill. It also helps you grow a better garden!

Why should you make your lawn water-efficient?

Because it's:

• Economical - Save money by reducing utility and maintenance costs.
• Environmental - Experience the satisfaction of protecting the environment and conserving water.
• Beautiful - Plants that receive correct and consistent watering are far healthier than plants subjected to too much or too little water. Plus, drought-tolerant plants come in a wide range of lovely varieties.
• Time Saving - Managing your water more effectively means you spend less time mowing, watering, and maintaining your yard.

Costs

The costs of making your yard more water-efficient vary widely. Some simple water-saving methods cost nothing but a little time and effort. On the other hand, more substantial efforts, such as changing your landscape, installing new drought-resistant plants, improving, repairing or replacing your current irrigation systems, or amending your soil, can add up to several hundred dollars.

However, the initial costs of making your yard more water-friendly will benefit your cheque book in the long run. Reduced water bills will soon cover the cost of your initial investment, and they'll also start saving you money on a regular basis.

It's important to remember that plants don't waste water; people do. We can still enjoy beautiful gardens while saving substantial amounts of water, if we're willing to adjust our methods, to employ and maintain better tools, and to make better choices when it comes to our plants and garden designs.

Methods

• Quantity & Timing: When, Why, and Where to Water
• Other Sources of Water: Reducing Dependency on the Hose
• Efficiency Tips: A Little Planning Goes a Long Way
• Plants & Water: Using Plant Characteristics to Your Advantage
• Absorption is Everything: Efficient Soil Management
• Mowing and Maintaining Your Lawn: Making the Cut
• Mulch: Conserve Water and Beautify Your Yard

Tools & Maintenance

• Hoses & Sprinklers
• Automatic vs. Manual Sprinkler Timers
• Buy a Rain Gauge
• Drip Irrigation
• Harvesting Rainfall

Plants & Garden Design

• Planning Your Garden
• Use Water-Saving Ornamental Grasses
• Slopes
• Use Microclimates
• Investigate First
• The Best Drought Tolerant Plants

For more information on ecoscaping, download our .pdf brochure "A Practical Guide for EcoScaping" (354K .pdf file).

For more in-depth information on water in the garden, see Jim Hole's articles at http://www.enjoygardening.com/.

Contacts

For water conservation inquiries: water@epcor.ca