As the spring season approaches, it’s the perfect time to be conscious of your landscaping habits. Inefficient watering can lead to heavy runoff, which carries debris, fertilizers, lawn chemicals, and more into our local waterways. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to eliminate excess irrigation runoff from your home!

Help protect our environment this season with these tips:

Equipment and Maintenance

• Check your sprinklers to ensure only the lawn is being watered, not sidewalks and walls. Also, check for leaks and broken sprinkler heads.
• Install a drip system or rotary nozzles that distribute water at a lower rate with precise coverage.
• Aerate your lawn to allow water to reach the roots directly, rather than running off the surface.

Timing and Scheduling

• Water at cooler hours, between 5 pm and 10 am to minimize water loss due to evaporation.
• Water based on the season— do not turn on sprinklers during periods of rain or within 48 hours of measurable rainfall.

Targeted Watering Techniques

• Stop irrigation as soon as you see runoff beginning to reach the pavement to prevent over-irrigation.
• Watering by hand makes it easier to target small patches without wasting water on surrounding areas.

Sustainable Landscaping

• Choose native, drought-tolerant plant species that are adapted to our local rainfall patterns.
• Add a layer of mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and keep roots cool as temperatures rise.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our city’s environment clean and beautiful— together, we can grow a sustainable future! Visit the city’s stormwater webpage for more information.