How Long Should You Water?
Planting beds
To determine the delivery rate of your watering system, perform this simple test. When it’s time to water (check soil moisture with a trowel first), run sprinklers or drip/soaker lines for 15 minutes, then wait a few hours and dig into the soil to see how deep the water has reached. Repeat until soil is moist as far down as the roots grow. Check the soil every few weeks in summer to keep up with seasonal changes.
Lawns
Most lawns need only 1 inch of water each week to stay green during our Northwest summers, and only half that much in September. To find out how long your sprinklers take to supply this amount, place several short, straight-sided, empty containers (like tuna or cat food cans) on your lawn. Place some near the edges of the spray pattern and some near the center. Turn on the sprinkler(s) for 15 minutes, then measure the water depth in each can with a ruler and determine the average depth. Finally, use the chart below to estimate how long and how often to water your lawn each week.
*May need to be split into two or more applications a few hours apart to prevent runoff.
Follow these easy tips for yard care this summer- naturally!
- Mulch flower and vegetable beds with compost of grass clipping to conserve water and control weeds.
- Mulch shrub and tree beds with wood chips, leaves or bark once a year to conserve water, reduce weeds and feed the soil. See all Tips.
Outdoor Watering
From May through September, water use in our region nearly doubles, primarily for lawns and gardens. Experts estimate that 50% or more of this water goes to waste, due to evaporation, runoff or simply overwatering.
The partner agencies of Cascade Water Alliance can help this summer with a new FREE Rain Sensor Program, as well as rebates designed for commercial and multi-family customers. Full Article
Indoor Water Conservation Rebates
Besides the very popular high-efficiency toilet rebates, Cascade and its partners still offer up to a $100 rebate to residential customers for the purchase of a qualifying high-efficiency clothes washer.
Visit cascadewater.org for details
And, for a limited time, Cash for Appliances Washington offers an additional $100 rebate on selected models. That's up to $200 in rebates on clothes washers, plus many retailers and manufacturers are offering incentives as well!
Visit cashforapplianceswa.com for details