Media Contact: Barb DeGroot, 952-443-1459

Flow Chart:  Water-Smart Lawn Tips

You can have a beautiful lawn and conserve water at the same time.  Here are a few tips:

1. Install a rain barrel or water recycling system.  Capture  rainwater runoff from roofs and other impervious surfaces for use in watering your lawn, trees, shrubs and gardens.  This reduces your household water usage and lessens the amount of stormwater entering our lakes, wetlands and streams.  
2. Create native and low-maintenance landscaping for your yard. Install a rain garden, prairie plot, grove of trees and shrubs, or opt for low-maintenance, hardy perennials or add a hardy fescue grass species to your lawn.  
3. Use mulch around plants and trees.  This lessens your mowing needs and helps retain valuable moisture.
4. Water in the early morning.  If you water during the warmest times of the day,  much of the water just evaporates.
5. Don’t overwater.  Most lawns only need 1 inch of water or rain a week, depending on grass and soil type and amount of shade.  Use a “smart” controller  to avoid over- or underwatering.  Or place an empty tuna can on your lawn while watering.  When the can is filled, you’ve probably applied sufficient water.

6.   Allowing your grass to grow to 2 or 3 inches encourages a deeper root system,  which helps build tolerance to drought and cold.

7.   Build healthy soil.  Healthy soil reduces the amount of water you’ll need for a     healthy lawn.  Soil testing and aeration can ensure a healthy soil.

For more water-wise landscaping ideas, visit Waterosity, a bubbling up of fresh thinking about people, plants and water at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.  The 2009 summer exhibition runs June 6 through Oct. 4 and features engaging, informative and playful exhibits, art installations and activities for all ages.

Don’t be a Drip:  Indoor Water Conservation Tips

            Every drip counts!  By taking small steps, you can save big on your indoor water usage and utility bill!  Here are some ideas for saving water indoors:

1. Keep daily showers to 5 minutes or less.
2. Install a low-flow showerhead, low-flow faucet or faucet aerator.
3. Do not let the water run while washing dishes; fill the sink instead.
4. Use leftover dishwater for watering plants. Or fill a pitcher when waiting for water to turn hot or cold and use this water on your plants.
5. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving.
6. When doing laundry or using the dishwasher, fill ’er up!  Wash full loads to make the most use of the water cycling through the machine.
7. Check toilets, faucets & fixtures for leaks. A drip wastes up to 20 gals. a day!
8. Install a “demand” (tankless or instantaneous) water heater to save water & energy.
9. If you have a 5 gallon per flush (gpf) toilet, replace it with a WaterSense rated or 1.6 gpf model.
10. If you have a 5-7 gpf toilet, place a water-filled plastic bottle or other device in your toilet tank to reduce amount of water required per flush.
11. When shopping for a new clothes washer or automatic dishwasher, look for the Energy Star label. 

 For more water-wise ideas, visit Waterosity, a bubbling up of fresh thinking about people, plants and water at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.  The 2009 summer exhibition runs June 6 through Oct. 4 and features engaging, informative and playful exhibits, art installations and activities for all ages.

 The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the largest public garden in the Upper Midwest, is part of the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and located 9 miles west of I-494 on Highway 5 in Chanhassen.  Admission is $7 for adults; free for ages 15 and younger and members.  The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer and educator. 

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