Did you know that over half of household water typically goes into our landscapes? There are several ways to reduce the amount of water you are using on your home landscaping. Here are some tips on how to conserve water in desert landscaping:

1. Determine how much water your plants need: Small shrubs need less water than big trees because they have a smaller root zone. A root zone refers to the area in which the feeder roots are most concentrated. It’s best if you make sure to wet the entire root zone on each water cycle to ensure you are maintaining the healthiest plants.

2. Determine how deep you should water: As a general rule of thumb, small plants (cacti, annuals, etc.) should be watered to a depth of one foot. Medium-sized plants and shrubs need to be watered to a depth of two feet and large trees and other large plants should be watered down to three feet in the soil. So how do you test how deep you have watered? Get a long screwdriver or soil probe and push the tool down into the soil approximately one hour after watering. You will know if you have not watered enough because the probe will be difficult or impossible to push into dry soil.

3. Determine how wide you should water: The roots that absorb water are located just beneath the outer edge of the plants canopy. This is called the dripline. Water is not absorbed close to the trunks or stems. This means you should place your emitters along the dripline of each plant so that the water spreads down and reaches the entire root zone as it soaks into the soil.

4. Determine how much water each part of your watering system applies: Whether you use a watering hose, bubbler, or drip emitter, it’s important to figure out how much water each of these systems is releasing. Remember that if you have more than one emitter on a plant or tree you need to total the output of all emitters. Once you have recorded the total outputs for your plants you can figure out run time for each watering line.

5. Make a worksheet which calculates the run time in hours for each area of your landscape. There are plenty of these worksheets available online or at your local garden supply store.

6. Determine your watering frequency: This can vary by season as the weather changes throughout the year. Run times should stay the same however your watering frequency will change. For example, plants can use 3 to 5 times as much water in the hot summer months as they do in the winter.

7. Make sure you are not over or under watering your plants: Signs of overwatering include excessive growth, change in color to yellow or light green, and algae on plants. Signs of under watering include leaves that curl, leaves that turn brown and dry up, and stems or branches that dry out and break.

For more information about maintaining your Arizona sod, or installing new sod, feel free to contact us at Evergreen Turf, Arizona’s Premier Sod Supplier.

Select the perfect turf using our lawn selector. Once you’ve found the perfect type of grass, you can order online or by phone. Learn how to measure your lawn and how to install your new lawn with our helpful online guides.

Desert landscaping has become a popular trend in the Southwest in recent years due to the ever-present need to conserve water. Using native plants is a great way to create a beautiful, low-cost, low-maintenance lawn. No more worrying about wasteful habits and high water bills!

If you are designing your landscape right now, make sure you buy appropriate plant life for your part of the country. Most of the Southwest has poor soil and hot weather, so buy plants suitable to this climate. There is an endless variety of plants that are drought-tolerant and thrive in sandy soil. Most people know that cactus and yucca do well in this environment, but did you know that there are also tons of flowers that do best when exposed to sun for the majority of the day? For example, oleander, juniper, and bougainvillea are all native plants that should grow well in your desert lawn landscaping. Consult a lawn care professional for additional recommendations on flowers that can bloom and flourish in your environment.

Another tip to conserve water is to buy small window planters and install them outside (as well as inside) your home. It’s best to put climate-sensitive plants indoors near a window so that you can control their environment, plus it never hurts to show them off to your neighbors!

It’s time to redefine the way people think of “Lawns” – Desert landscaping does not solely consist of concrete, rock lawns, and decaying driftwood. There are many other ways to arrange a desert yard. Consider adding a pool, spa, or wading pond to your lawn to add a different aesthetic quality to it. And if you do want grass in your lawn, just make sure you buy native species like Bermuda grass. Bermuda is built to withstand hot temperatures and dry climates. Evergreen Turf offers several different varieties of sod that are suited for the Arizona climate.

When planting, be sure to give roots time to anchor into the soil. In the Southwest, the wind can be just as harsh as the sun, so you may want to install fences or hedges around your property to block out some of the wind. Additionally, temporary tarps and cover-ups can be used to help with the wind issue. Talk to a professional landscaper to learn about the best watering timetable for your plants. Landscapers may even install a timed drip irrigation system to help you conserve water. They can also help you brainstorm other desert landscaping options, install pools, and create beautiful lighting around your lawn.

Here are some final tips to ensure you have the best desert landscape lawn out there:

• Only water in the mornings or evenings to help conserve water.
• Check your soil’s moisture-level from time to time to make sure it doesn’t get too dry.
• In the fall and spring you may only need to water your landscape once a week, but check with a professional for tailored advice.
• Late fall and winter allow for even more water conservation due to the increase in rain, snow, and water runoff.

For more information about maintaining your Arizona sod, or installing new sod, feel free to contact us at Evergreen Turf, Arizona’s Premier Sod Supplier.