San Diego BE WISE: WATER WISE

Sprinklers, hoses, pools – there are many ways to use water outdoors in the summertime.  There are also countless and easy ways to conserve it.  Following are a few tips for developing good H2O habits:

Water your lawn only when necessary.  Walk across the lawn; if you leave footprints it is time to water (usually once every three days).

To minimize evaporation, water your lawn during the early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.

Divide you watering cycle into shorter periods to reduce run-off and allow for better absorption.
Periodically check your pool for leaks if you have an automatic refilling device.

Weed your lawn and garden regularly; weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light and water.
When the kids want to play in the water, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it most.

Use sprinklers that throw big drops of water close to the ground.

Use a hose nozzle and turn off the water while you wash your car – you’ll save more than 100 gallons.

Use a screwdriver as a probe to test soil moisture; if it goes in easily, don’t water.

Use a grease pencil to mark the water level of your pool, and check the mark 24 hours later.  Your pool should loose no more than ¼ inch each day.

Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so that only the lawn (not the house, sidewalk or street) is watered.                               San Diego real estate blog