Making Watersmart Choices in Texas

In a changing and warming world, we all do our best to help the environment around us. Some people think that being environmentally friendly will be detrimental to the aesthetic of your landscaping. But property management can be creative and beautiful while also being green in more ways than one! Take water conservation, for example. As a Pflugerville homeowner, you have many choices within your control to be water smart with your landscape design and maintenance. Today, we’ll teach you a few easy ways to make the best water choices for your landscape. Choose the Right Plants One of the first steps to water-smart landscaping is picking the right plants. With access to pictures and ideas from all over the world, many designs have become universal. And while it can be fun to emulate landscapes you’ve seen elsewhere, not everything will work equally well everywhere. So start by picking plants that are right for your environment. Native Plants One of the simplest ways to choose the proper landscaping for your property is by picking native plants. If you plant what typically grows in your community without intervention, you should have no trouble growing it on the water your environment naturally provides. Succulents & Cacti Our hot and dry summers can make it a challenge to grow plants that thrive in other areas f the country. But succulents and cacti from all over do well in the Texas heat. Do Your Research It would be impossible to list every species that would do well here and each one that wouldn’t, and even if we did, our answers wouldn’t apply to every property’s microenvironment. So do your research before any new plant installations. Or better yet, talk to a quality professional landscaper like Progreen! Schedule Your Watering Even if you plant water-smart plants, they still need some water. And if you have a more traditional yard with a lawn, it needs water daily. But you can plan out when you water so it will be most effective. The worst time to water is when the sun is shining. That’s because you compete with evaporation. Watering in the evening is an option, but you may risk mold in your plants. Early morning, before the sun rises, is the best time to water. Use Mulch Mulching is one of the simplest ways to save water. Mulch not only insulates your plants from the harsh sun but also helps them keep the water it receives. Mulch soaks up the water allowing it to seep into the plant’s roots instead of evaporating or going downhill. Let the Weather Work for You You can’t always count on the weather to water your plants, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of it when it does. Not only is it wasteful of water and money to overwater your plants, but it can also harm them. Too much water may be as bad as too little. One way to pay attention to how much water your plants receive is with a rain gauge. You may also be able to use sensors within your irrigation systems to understand how much water your plants are getting and need. Another way to let the weather work for you is to collect rain. Rain barrels are an excellent way to use rainwater when you need it. Irrigation Systems Finally, we’d be remiss in our duties as professional landscapers and irrigation installation professionals if we didn’t also recommend you install an irrigation system. Contrary to popular belief, irrigation systems use less water than manual watering and are among the best water-smart choices. The most water-efficient irrigation system is drip irrigation. Drip irrigation waters your plants at or near the roots, so you don’t have to worry about runoff or evaporation. We can program your irrigation to apply the perfect amount of water at the ideal time. Inspect and Repair Your Irrigation System Once you get an irrigation system, you’re ahead of the landscaping curve, but that doesn’t mean you never have to consider it again. Because your system is made of many interconnected mechanical, electrical, and plumbing parts, it’s vital to have professionals inspect your irrigation system regularly and repair anything broken. For example, a poorly calibrated system due to a leaky pipe or a wrongly aimed sprinkler can lose a lot of water! Progreen Can Help You Make Water Smart Choices If you want ways to make your yard greener for economic, environmental, or any reasons, call your professional green team at ProGreen. We’re ready to help you make the best water-smart choices for your home.