Tarter Home Maintenance Blog

Water Smart Landscaping

 

Growing up in the Midwest,  I must admit that I took water for granted.  The grass and crops grew with little or no irrigation.   As I sit here, I can only recall a few people that watered their lawns, and they did it because they really had nothing else to do.  Here in Las Vegas, it’s a little different.  Growing anything means you MUST water.

 

I bought my first home here in Vegas because it reminded me of  the homes of my childhood.  It had a big lot, with all grass and mature trees.  That’s definitely a rarity here in Vegas.  After the first big windstorm, I realized that the trees were hollow inside from years of the harsh Vegas sun drying them from the inside out.  I also found out how hard it was to grow grass here.  I had to run my sprinklers seven days a week, three times a day.  One sprinkler malfunction or one plugged sprinkler head,  and you have dead grass in just a couple of days.  The increase in my water bill, and the time that I spent turning on my automatic sprinkler system and adjusting heads, changed my mind really quickly.

 

I realized that a desert landscape and a drip irrigation system were the only way to go.   My water bill has been reduced by 75%, and I can spend my time enjoying my backyard rather that being in defensive mode, trying to force grass to grow.  I will admit that it took me a while to get used to rocks instead of grass, but with a little careful planning and some creativity, you can have a really beautiful yard full of colorful plants.

 

Because native desert plants have different watering needs than grass, your irrigation clock should allow different settings for drip and sprinkler stations.

 

Drip irrigation is truly beneficial to plants in desert environments.  Drip systems should run longer than sprinkler systems because they deliver water more slowly.  Determine the length of time to water based on the flow rate of your drip emitters, the types of plants you are watering and the condition of the soil.

 

 Drip irrigation is usually needed less frequently than sprinkler irrigation.  

Check your drip line periodically for breaks and check emitters for clogs or heads that have broken off.  Ensure that each emitter is releasing the proper amount of water.

In my opinion, there’s no such thing as a maintenance-free lawn.  But, a desert landscape and drip irrigation system is pretty darn close.  There are just a few things you should know to keep your drip system running smooth.

 

1.  Flush the drip irrigation lines and filters every time you change your irrigation schedule, or at least twice a year.

 

2.  Find the “end cap” on your drip line.  This should be at the furthest point from your valve box.  Open the cap and briefly run the system to flush out any debris that could be clogging your line.

 

3.  Turn off the water before trying to recap your line.

 

When it’s 112 degrees outdoors,  the last thing you want to do is work in your yard.  Change over to a desert landscape, then you can spend less time sweating and more time inside in the air conditioner.

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