Landscape Water Conservation

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Landscape Water Conservation
Dotty Woodson Extension Program Specialist Water
Resources Texas AgriLife Extension Dallas
Research and Extension Center
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Landscape Water Conservation

• What does landscape water conservation landscape
  look like?
• Plant Selection
• Landscape Management

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Is this What You Think?
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I Dont Think So
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Better
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Even Better
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BEST!
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ISSUES

• Water Quality
• Contamination/pollution due to runoff
• Water Conservation
• Is there enough?
• Can conservation
• make a difference?

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GOT WATER?

• Population and Growth
• Extended Drought not enough water going back
  into system
• Older Lakes Filling with Sediment

Lake Lavon 2006
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Eagle Mountain Lake 2006
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Lake Arlington 2006
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DFW Metroplex Lakes
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North Central Texas Future

• Currently 1.7 million Acre-feet of water now
  available to North Texas
• Future Projection 3.3 million acre-feet of water
  North Texas required in 2060
• SOURCE Texas Water Development Board

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• 70 to 75 Billion dollars on landscape services
• In 5 years 2/3 of the states will be short of
  water even in non-drought conditions

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Can Landscape Water Conservation Make a
Difference?

• YES
• With only one restriction in place water only
  after 600 pm and before 1000 am
• 15 water saved
• Source Tarrant Regional Water District

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Landscape Water Conservation

• Texas SmartScape
• Earth Kind
• Xeriscape
• Waterwise
• Yard Smart
• Water Smart

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Basic Principles

• Planning and Design
• Soil Analysis and Preparation
• Plant Selection
• Practical Turf Areas
• Efficient Irrigation
• Mulch
• Landscape Best Management Practices

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Planning

• Red Oak
• Live Oak
• Redbud
• Crape Myrtle
• Texas Sage
• Carissa Holly
• Nandina
• Gulf Mulhy
• Salvia greggii
• Lantana
• Turks cap
• Mealy Blue Sage
• Belindas Dream Rose
• Knock Out Rose

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Soil Preparation
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Plant SelectionNative and Adapted Plants
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Native and Adapted Plants

• Thrive
• Use less water
• Less pest problems
• Source Texas AM University

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Texas SmartScape
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Butterfly Bush
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Zone Landscape by Water Requirements

• High water requiring area
• Medium
• Low

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Appropriate Turf Areas

• 1/3 Turf
• 1/3 Plantings Beds
• 1/3 permeable Hardscape

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Efficient Irrigation

• Residential and commercial landscapes use more
  than 25 percent of the total water consumption in
  urban areas of Texas.
• Water usage increases 25 to 60 during the
  summer.
• Rain and Freeze Sensors

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Efficient Irrigation

• How Often
• How Long
• When

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Irrigation BMPs

• Water only when required. Only judge water
  requirements in the morning.
• Water deeply to promote deep roots and healthy
  turf. An inch of water will generally penetrate
  the soil to a depth of six inches.
• Water slowly for better absorption. Use drip or
  soaker hoses wherever possible.
• Never water on windy days.
• Water early in the morning to reduce wasteful
  evaporation.
• Mulch flower, groundcover, garden and shrub areas
  two to three times a year.
• Water newly planted flowers, shrubs and trees
  individually.
• Water without creating runoff.
• Audit irrigation system 1 or 2 times a year.

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Efficient Irrigation
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Even Distribution of Water
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Irrigation Audit

• Check every sprinkler head
• Make any repairs
• Run system with catchment cans
• Correct any poor distribution
• Time how long each station needs to run
• Set controller

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Use Drip Irrigation90 efficient

• Shrubs areas
• Flower beds
• Vegetable Garden
• Groundcover areas

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Drip Irrigation
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MULCH MULCH
MULCH
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MULCH

• Increases water absorbing capacity
• Increases water holding capacity
• Reduces water evaporation
• Reduces erosion
• Helps control weeds
• Moderates soil temperature
• Break down into plant nutrients

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Compost All Yard WasteDont Bag It
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Landscape Maintenance BMPs

• Mowing
• Remove 1/3 leaf blade
• Shape blades
• Early morning
• Fertilizer
• Soil test
• Slow Release
• Pest Control
• Identification

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Resources

• Texas Cooperative Extension
• Water Providers
• Texas SmartScape web site
• Fort Worth Botanic Garden
• Dallas Arboretum
• Garden Centers
• Texas Super Stars
• Earth Kind Roses

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Rainwater Harvesting And Rain Garden
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Resources

• http//txsmartscape.com
• http//aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/
• http//urbanlandscapeguide.tamu.edu/
• http//www.trwd.com/prod/index.asp
• http//texaset.tamu.edu/
• http//turf.tamu.edu/
• http//rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/
• http//irrigation.tamu.edu/
• http//earthkindroses.tamu.edu/
• http//aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/index
  .html
• http//dallas.tamu.edu/

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For More Information Dotty Woodson Extension
Program Specialist- Water Resources Texas
AgriLife Extension 17360 Coit Road Dallas, Texas
75252 972-952-9688 D-woodson_at_tamu.edu