DuPage Water Commission

Conservation Tips for Landscaping:

These seven basic steps will help your landscape fit your lifestyle and maintain healthy plants.

Create a master landscape plan. Include existing structures, shrubs, and street. Your plan will help you install or modify your landscape in phases, reducing initial expenses. In the planning stage, decide how zones of the landscape will be used. Group plants with similar watering needs together.

Compost and cultivate. Clay soil absorbs water so slowly that the water runs off the surface very quickly. Adding an organic amendment such as compost helps clay soil absorb and retain water.

Consider grass and ground cover. Use turf where it is practical and functional. Grass can require more water, maintenance and nutrients than most other plants. One inch of water, once a week, is just right for most lawns. Water twice a week only during a heat wave. Ground covers, low-water-using plants, and mulches are good choices where there is little foot traffic. Steep slopes, sharp angles, and narrow driveway or sidewalk strips are ideal places for groundcover. Established ground cover reduces weeds and prevents slope erosion. Hardscape is another option. Use rock, concrete, or wood for paths, patios, and other areas of interest.

Remember that every plant has its place. Different plants require different amounts of water and sunlight. They also need compatible soil conditions to survive. Group plants according to their needs.

Water wisely. The greatest water waster is watering too much, too often. Deep, infrequent watering produces a deep-rooted lawn, which is more water-efficient and drought-tolerant. Plants and shrubs thrive when they have the right amount of water. Consult your local nursery and landscape professional to get advice on giving plants the right amount of water.

Use mulches. Organic mulches, such as aged manure, compost, or bark chips, increase the ability of soil to store water. They also help prevent weeds and reduce soil erosion. Apply three inches of mulch in open areas for weed control and less around plants to allow water to reach the roots.

Keep up the maintenance. Pruning and pest control will keep you landscape healthy. Fertilize when necessary. Control weeds as they compete with plants for light, nutrients and water. Thatch and aerate your lawn once a year in spring or fall so water soaks into the ground.