Outdoor Conservation Tips

Outdoor conservation is just as important as indoor conservation, but where do we start? Water Wise Wendy is here to share her favorite water wise tips to get your outdoor areas prepped for the hot summer days. With help from her friends at Zone 7, Water Wise Wendy provides tips and tricks for saving water in your yard and garden, all year round.  

In order to help support the Tri-Valley community with water conservation efforts during the current drought, Water Wise Wendy has put together a series of tips for you focused on your lawn, garden and outdoor areas!

Outdoor Saving Tip #1 Become a Mulch Master

Ready to become a mulch master? It’s time to upgrade our outdoor garden areas with mulch! 

Mulch can be placed on a variety of surfaces, including woody perennials and shrubs or around vegetables and in flower beds. Mulch can be there to help promote soil health by conserving moisture, moderating temperature, improving drainage, and preventing erosion. Ready to get started? Prepare your site by trimming down weeds, then grab some mulch and apply a two to four inch layer of mulch around your plants or shrubs! To learn more about how to sheet mulch, visit lawntogarden.org.

Outdoor Saving Tip #2 Get rid of your thirsty lawn

Kick that thirsty lawn to the curb! Replace your old lawn areas with water-wise plants and generous amounts of mulch to create a water-wise lawn that will save water and look beautiful. The best part? We offer a Water-Efficient Lawn Conversion rebate that will pay you to remove your irrigated lawn! To get started on the rebate and transforming your yard, submit your plans and application to rebates@zone7water.com.

Outdoor Saving Tip #3 Be careful not to water when it rains

Is rain expected in the forecast? Has the afternoon brought in an unexpected rainstorm? (We can dream!) Be sure to turn off your sprinklers or irrigation systems. The small act of not letting your yard or garden get watered more than necessary can save water and help not overwater yards and gardens. If you would rather not watch the forecast, we also offer a Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebate!

Outdoor Saving Tip #4 Use your broom!

When it comes to keeping driveways, walkways or outdoor areas looking clean and debris free, turn to your broom for a helping hand. Although a hose may seem more convenient, that is a water-wasting habit we need to leave in medieval times! Grab your trusty push broom or in the case of our water saving wizard, their wizard broom and start sweeping your outdoor areas clean. 

Outdoor Saving Tip #5 Divide your garden into zones

When planting your garden, assign areas of your landscape into different zones. These zones will create clusters of plants who have similar sun/shade exposures, soil or plant types and watering needs! Once you’ve created your different zones, adjust your irrigation system or watering schedule based on a zone’s specific needs. Creating zones will help you avoid overwatering or underwatering!

Outdoor Saving Tip #6 Water when the time is right!

Having a good watering schedule for your lawn or garden is just as important as regular beauty sleep. The best time to water is in the early mornings and not just because the early bird gets the worm. Watering early reduces water loss from factors such as wind and evaporation. Be sure to set your irrigation controller so you don’t need to wake up bright and early every morning!

Outdoor Saving Tip #7 Protect your pool water

Keeping your pool water where it belongs is especially important during hot summer months. Not properly covering your pool allows water to evaporate. Even on cool nights, your pool could lose about a quarter of an inch of water each day! Make sure to put a cover on your pool to prevent evaporation. 

Outdoor Saving Tip #8 Install water efficient irrigation

Step up your irrigation by installing water efficient irrigation like drip irrigation. Drip irrigation lets water drip slowly to the roots of the plants, minimizing evaporation and maximizing the water being absorbed by plants, making sure water is making the most impact! Drip Irrigation can be installed by choosing one or two sprinklers to attach the drip system to and capping off the remaining sprinklers.