Is Your Landscape Water Smart?
If you want a beautiful yard without the astronomical water bill that comes from excessive outdoor watering, consider a landscape that’s “Water-Smart” and promotes “WaterSense.”
Some of the keys to Water-Smart landscapes include: planning ahead with water efficiency in mind, choosing the right (drought tolerant) plants, preparing your soil and caring for its health, as well as practicing proper maintenance of your lawn and landscape. 
More specifically, consider the following water smart landscaping, maintenance, and other water saving tips:
* Use native plants typical of our region that don’t require lots of water.
* Group your plants and shrubs according to similar watering needs.
* Place your turf grass strategically.
* Plant ground covers and shrubs with deep roots on slopes to stabilize and prevent erosion.
As for maintaining proper soil health:
* Aerate your soil seasonally, to help with compaction and aid water flow to the roots.
* Use mulch to retain water for plants, while helping with erosion and soil temperature.
* Limit the use of fertilizers, herbicides and other chemicals.
Finally, proper lawn maintenance is important, too, such as:
* Raise your lawnmower’s cutting height.
* Leave grass clippings because they provide nutrients for your lawn.
* Replace mulch and remove weeds and thatch as needed.
The HCWA is an EPA WaterSense promotional partner, advocating for wise water use in and around the home and office. The WaterSense Water-Smart Landscape Guide is available on this website (www.hcwa.com), along with additional indoor and outdoor water conservation tips.
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Media contact:
Chris Wood, Ph.D.
P: 770-757-1681
E: chris@jwapr.com or john.wood@gcsu.edu