maintaining a watersmart landscape watersmart is a program of the georgia department of natural...

Maintaining a Maintaining a waterSmartwaterSmart Landscape Landscape

waterSmart is a program of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division in partnership with

the University Georgia Cooperative Extension.

www.ConserveWaterGeorgia.net

By participating in this By participating in this program,program,I can receive a certificate I can receive a certificate that…that…• Commits me to reducing the amount Commits me to reducing the amount

of water I use in and around my home of water I use in and around my home or business.or business.

• Allows me to water my landscape on a Allows me to water my landscape on a limited basis, if I live in the northern limited basis, if I live in the northern third of Georgia where outdoor water third of Georgia where outdoor water use is otherwise banned.use is otherwise banned.

WaterWater Facts Facts• The same amount of water is on earth today as when The same amount of water is on earth today as when

the earth was created. the earth was created.

• 97% is of the water is salt water in the oceans and seas.97% is of the water is salt water in the oceans and seas.

• 2% of the earth’s water is tied up in polar ice caps.2% of the earth’s water is tied up in polar ice caps.

• 1% is fresh water available for drinking, bathing, and 1% is fresh water available for drinking, bathing, and cooking.cooking.

Georgia’s WaterGeorgia’s Water• 9.5 million people 9.5 million people

depend on a clean depend on a clean water supply.water supply.

• The population is The population is increasing by more increasing by more than 2.2 % a year than 2.2 % a year making GA the 5making GA the 5thth fastest growing fastest growing state in the nation.state in the nation. http://drought.unl.edu/gallery/2007/Georgia/LakeHartwell2.htm

© 2006 National Drought Mitigation Center

Georgia’Georgia’s Waters Water• Most of GA’s Most of GA’s

water sources water sources originate in originate in the state. the state.

• Alabama and Alabama and Florida also Florida also depend on depend on these water these water sources.sources.

Georgia’s WaterGeorgia’s Water• Water utilities throughout the state are permitted Water utilities throughout the state are permitted

by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to withdraw water and deliver it to their to withdraw water and deliver it to their customers.customers.

• In 2007-2008 many Georgia counties are facing an In 2007-2008 many Georgia counties are facing an exceptional drought that is only seen once in 150 exceptional drought that is only seen once in 150 years.years.

• In November 2007, water utilities were ordered to In November 2007, water utilities were ordered to reduce consumption by 10% over last winter in reduce consumption by 10% over last winter in response to the drought.response to the drought.

Georgia’Georgia’s Waters Water• Water utilities Water utilities

are required to are required to enforce the enforce the Outdoor Water Outdoor Water Use Rule which Use Rule which bans outdoor bans outdoor watering in the watering in the northern 1/3 northern 1/3 of Georgia.of Georgia.

Georgia needs healthy Georgia needs healthy landscapes and landscapes landscapes and landscapes need waterneed water• A healthy A healthy

landscape landscape says welcome says welcome to my home or to my home or business.business.

• Gives our Gives our children a safe children a safe place to play.place to play.

Landscapes…Landscapes…• Produce the Produce the

oxygen we breathe.oxygen we breathe.

• Reduce carbon Reduce carbon dioxide.dioxide.

• Moderate air Moderate air temperatures temperatures resulting in lower resulting in lower heating and cooling heating and cooling costs.costs.

One tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the One tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, equaling 11,000 miles of car emissions.atmosphere annually, equaling 11,000 miles of car emissions.

Landscapes…Landscapes…

• Filter air and water Filter air and water pollutants, noise pollutants, noise and dust. and dust.

• Reduce stormwater Reduce stormwater runoff.runoff.

• Provide Provide groundwater groundwater recharge.recharge.

[email protected]

The goal of a The goal of a waterSmartwaterSmart Landscape is to maintain Landscape is to maintain

healthy lawns and gardens while healthy lawns and gardens while using less water.using less water.

waterSmartwaterSmart Tips Tips

•Know how much water your Know how much water your plants need.plants need.

•Put the “right” plants in the “right” Put the “right” plants in the “right” places.places.

•Mulch.Mulch.•Collect A/C condensate & rainwater. Collect A/C condensate & rainwater. •Use less water indoors. Use less water indoors.

More plants are killed in More plants are killed in Georgia from over-Georgia from over-watering than from watering than from

drought.drought.

Shrubs: Apply 1 GALLON of water per foot of plant height up to once a week.

Lawns: Apply up to 1 INCH of water per application up to once a week.

Trees: Apply 1 INCH of water under entire canopy up to once a week.(for larger trees don’t water area within 4 feet of trunk)

RULE OF THUMB

Target water to plants Target water to plants that show signs of stress such that show signs of stress such

asas• Gray/green ColorGray/green Color• WiltingWilting• Dying BranchesDying Branches

Use a hand-held hose with water Use a hand-held hose with water nozzle or a watering can.nozzle or a watering can.

Water at night or early morning Water at night or early morning to avoid losing water to to avoid losing water to

evaporation.evaporation.Water Deeply!Water Deeply!

Light, frequent watering causes shallow rooting Light, frequent watering causes shallow rooting and increases need for water.and increases need for water.

Minimize use of spray irrigation

Soak don’t sprinkle.Soak don’t sprinkle.

NOT

Use Drip Use Drip IrrigationIrrigation•Drip uses 30% to 50% less water than Drip uses 30% to 50% less water than

sprinklers.sprinklers.

•Drip avoids Drip avoids spraying foliage spraying foliage so diseases are so diseases are less likely to less likely to occur.occur.

•Drip waters the plantDrip waters the plant instead of the area.instead of the area.

In-ground irrigation system In-ground irrigation system users should…users should…

• Have a regular Have a regular system audit.system audit.– Check for leaks.Check for leaks.– Consider new water Consider new water

saving equipment.saving equipment.

• Maximize areas Maximize areas using drip using drip irrigation.irrigation.

Fogging from using too much pressure.

Broken Pipe


•Know how much water your plants Know how much water your plants need. need.

•Put the “right” plants in the Put the “right” plants in the “right” places.“right” places.


Select Plants Adapted to theSelect Plants Adapted to theSite and the Stresses Site and the Stresses

of the Environmentof the Environment

Drought tolerance is important, Drought tolerance is important, but also consider potential insect but also consider potential insect and disease problems, sunlight and disease problems, sunlight

and soil requirements.and soil requirements.

Use Turfgrass for a PurposeUse Turfgrass for a Purpose

• Aesthetic Value (Welcome Mat)Aesthetic Value (Welcome Mat)• Recreational SurfaceRecreational Surface• Erosion ControlErosion Control

Minimize the amount of Minimize the amount of irrigated turfgrass.irrigated turfgrass.

Drought Tolerance of Drought Tolerance of TurfgrassesTurfgrasses

Hybrid BermudaHybrid Bermuda

ZoysiaZoysia

St. St. AugustinegrassAugustinegrass

CentipedeCentipede

Tall FescueTall Fescue

MostMost

LeastLeast

Benefits of MulchBenefits of Mulch• Prevents water loss from the soil.Prevents water loss from the soil.

• Prevents soil-borne diseases.Prevents soil-borne diseases.

• Insulates the roots of plants from Insulates the roots of plants from extreme heat and cold.extreme heat and cold.

• Reduces weed competition.Reduces weed competition.

Best MulchBest MulchOrganicOrganic

Fine-texturedFine-textured

Non-mattingNon-matting

MulcMulchh

NOTNOT

PICTURE OF PINESTRAW

PICTURE OF Rock Mulch

How Much Mulch?How Much Mulch?

3 to 5 inches deep is 3 to 5 inches deep is sufficientsufficient

1 bale of pine straw covers 1 bale of pine straw covers approximately 50 sq. ft.approximately 50 sq. ft.




•Mulch.Mulch.•Collect A/C condensate & Collect A/C condensate &

rainwater.rainwater. •Use less water indoors. Use less water indoors.

Watering with A/C condensate and harvested rainwater

is always allowed.

Condensate Harvesting Condensate Harvesting PotentialPotential

AC productionAC production Example: Example:

10 gallons/day10 gallons/day

x 7 to convert x 7 to convert

to gallons per week to gallons per week 70 gallons/week70 gallons/week

x 4 to convert x 4 to convert

to gallons per to gallons per monthmonth

~280 gallons/month~280 gallons/month

Need ~7+ gallons/day to get 280 gallons/month.

Condensate Pumps

Pump ~25 gallons/hour with 15’ headCost ~ $50

RainwateRainwater r

HarvestiHarvesting ng

PotentialPotential

(see next (see next slide)slide)

MonthMonth ExampleExampleRainfallRainfall

(inches)(inches)

624 624 (gallons/(gallons/

inch)inch)

VolumeVolume

(gallons)(gallons)

AprilApril 1.36”1.36” 624624 849849

MayMay 0.26”0.26” 624624 162162

JuneJune 4.37”4.37” 624624 2,7272,727

JulyJuly 3.42”3.42” 624624 2,1342,134

AugustAugust 1.19”1.19” 624624 743743

SeptembeSeptemberr

1.46”1.46” 624624 911911

OctoberOctober 2.89”2.89” 624624 1,8031,803

NovemberNovember 0.93’0.93’ 624624 580580

Rainfall on a 20 x 50’ roof area (1,000 ft2)




•Mulch.Mulch.•Collect A/C Condensate & Rainwater. Collect A/C Condensate & Rainwater.

•Use less water indoors. Use less water indoors.

Water FactsWater Facts

• Average family of 4 can use 400 Average family of 4 can use 400 gallons of water every day.gallons of water every day.

• Approximately 70 percent of Approximately 70 percent of household water is used indoors and household water is used indoors and 30 percent is devoted to outdoor uses.30 percent is devoted to outdoor uses.

Use less water indoorsUse less water indoors

WWash laundry and dishes with full loads. ash laundry and dishes with full loads.

AAlways turn off running water.lways turn off running water.

TTake shorter showers.ake shorter showers.

EEliminate leaks.liminate leaks.

RReduce the flow of toilets and shower heads. educe the flow of toilets and shower heads.

Find more tips at www.ConserveWaterGeorgia.net.

at home…at home…

Use less water indoorsUse less water indoors

•Educate your employees and co-workers. •Know your usage.

- Start with reading your water meter. - Establish a baseline use.

• Identify and fix leaks.•Maximize the efficiency of your cooling tower.• Install water efficient equipment.

Find more information at www.ConserveWaterGeorgia.net.

at work…at work…

By participating in this By participating in this programprogramI can receive a certificate I can receive a certificate that…that…• Commits me to reducing the amount Commits me to reducing the amount

of water I use in other areas of my of water I use in other areas of my home.home.

• Allows me to water my landscape on a Allows me to water my landscape on a limited basis, if I live in the northern limited basis, if I live in the northern third of Georgia where outdoor water third of Georgia where outdoor water use is otherwise banned.use is otherwise banned.

Next StepsNext Steps

• Commit to reducing the amount of Commit to reducing the amount of water you use in other areas of your water you use in other areas of your home.home.

• Take the quiz that follows this Take the quiz that follows this presentation. Score 70% or better.presentation. Score 70% or better.


• Print a certificate of completion.Print a certificate of completion.

• Post the certificate prominently in Post the certificate prominently in your yard.your yard.

• Your name and address will be added Your name and address will be added to a statewide database for use by to a statewide database for use by water utilities.water utilities.


• Conserve water inside the home.Conserve water inside the home.

• Maintain a Maintain a waterSmartwaterSmart landscape. landscape.

• Only when necessary, water Only when necessary, water landscapes landscapes 1 day per week within the hours of 1 day per week within the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m.12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m.

For additional information onFor additional information onwaterSmartwaterSmart Landscapes Landscapes

Call your local UGA Cooperative Call your local UGA Cooperative Extension Office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.Extension Office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

Consult a landscape professional.Consult a landscape professional. Visit a local garden center.Visit a local garden center. Go to Go to

www.ConserveWaterGeorgia.net.www.ConserveWaterGeorgia.net. Visit the UGA Extension Service web Visit the UGA Extension Service web

site: site: www.caes.uga.eduwww.caes.uga.edu. .

Author:Author:Gary L. Wade, Ph.D. Gary L. Wade, Ph.D.

UGA, Department of HorticultureUGA, Department of Horticulture& &

Todd HurtTodd HurtUGA Center for Urban AgricultureUGA Center for Urban Agriculture

The University of GeorgiaThe University of GeorgiaCollege of Agricultural and Environmental College of Agricultural and Environmental

SciencesSciences

Maintaining a Maintaining a waterSmartwaterSmart Landscape Landscape

waterSmart is a program of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division in partnership with

the University Georgia Cooperative Extension.

www.ConserveWaterGeorgia.net

maintaining a watersmart landscape watersmart is a program of the georgia department of natural...

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inch of water

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