Water is one of our most valuable natural
resources. Most of the time, however, we
take it for granted and use it in abundance until drought sets in and we are
forced to conserve. It seems that the High Country received plenty of
precipitation this past winter, but drought can set in at any time
unexpectedly. To protect our water
supply from shortages, we should strive daily to conserve water instead of
waiting until an emergency drought to conserve. This article introduces some
basic ideas that will help you conserve water and protect the environment.
One
area where water use can be decreased without sacrificing beauty or function is
in landscaping. The term xeriscaping means landscaping for efficient water use.
By using plants that are drought tolerant and by knowing what amount of water
is right for your landscape and when to water, you can use much less
water. A truly efficient way to use water in a yard is
to design the yard so that it thrives predominantly on rainfall.
When
planning your landscape, divide the area into low, moderate, and high water-use
zones. Water should be applied to meet
the needs of the plants in each of your zones.
Incorporate as many of the natural elements of the site into the design
as possible. Shade can hold more moisture
than full sun areas, so it can make the landscape more water efficient. Older, established plants should be watered
less often than young or new plants.
An
established plant refers to the time it takes for roots of newly planted plants
to spread outside the root ball into existing soil. During this time plants need 1 inch of
watering or rainfall per week.
Perennials and shrubs may take up to 12 weeks to establish, while trees
could take up to two seasons. Initially,
water should be applied to the root ball.
As the roots mature, the water should be applied at the canopy drip
line.
Many
of us have lawns that require maintenance to continue looking nice. To keep your lawn healthy and require less
maintenance, let your grass grow higher.
The higher the grass blade can grow, the more extensive the root system
will be, and the lawn will be healthier.
When the roots are able to grow deeper, the lawn becomes more drought
tolerant and requires less fertilization.
Raise the mowing height, and mow often enough that no more than
one-third of the leaf tissue is removed. Keep the mower blade sharp; a dull
blade causes more plant water loss and undue stress.
When
water is scarce, avoid unnecessary plant stress and seriously minimize
fertilization. Many fertilizers are
chemical salts and may damage roots and prevent water absorption. Fertilizers also stimulate new growth, which
increases demand for water. Pruning also
stimulates new growth and should be avoided during water shortages.
Different
plants show different drought-related symptoms. The leaves of some plants may
exhibit marginal leaf burn, whereas others simply wilt. Some daily wilting is
normal during hot summer days, but prolonged drought conditions can cause
continuous wilting. For trees and shrubs, wilting is one of the first signs of
drought stress.
Certain
plants in the landscape wilt readily and can be used as early indicators of
drought stress. Plants to watch for signals that it is time to water include
azaleas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, most annuals, herbaceous perennials, and
turfgrass. The first symptoms of moisture stress in turfgrass are a dull
grey-green color and leaf blade folding or rolling. It is most effective and
efficient to wait for these symptoms of stress before irrigating.
Some
drought tolerant plants that thrive in the High Country include; Tulip
poplar- Liriodendron tulipfera, Sycamore- Platanus occidentalis,
Laurel oak- Quercus laurifolia, Live oak- Quercus virginiana, Pin
oak- Quercus palustris, White oak- Quercus alba, Hollies- Ilex
spp., Chaste tree- Vitex
agnus-castus, Sweet gum- Liquidambar styraciflua, Yaupon holly Ilex vomitoria, Strawberry bushEuonymus
Americana, Forsythia Forsythia intermedia, Viburnum Viburnum
spp., Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia spp., Coreopsis- Coreopsis
spp., Cosmos- Cosmos spp.,
Butterfly weed- Asclepias tuberosa, Gaillardia- Gaillardia x grandiflora, Goldenrod- Solidago,
Blazing Star- Liatris spp., Purple coneflower- Echineacea prurpurea, Stokes'
aster- Stokesia cyanea.
Information from this article is found in the following articles:
Water Wise Use in Landscaping,
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/wqwm/ag508_1.html
The Carolina Yardstick Workbook is a great resource to think about
the functionality of your yard. http://www.clemson.edu/extension/natural_resources/water/carolina_yards/carolina_yardstick.pdf#Download
the PDF version.
