March-2006 Issue

Got drought? SmartScape®!

Find out how to save $$ and save water
March is Texas SmartScape® Month

With current drought conditions expected to affect our region, North Texans are asking how they can maintain beautiful lawns and gardens that still thrive during harsh drought conditions without putting a dent in their wallets. Texas SmartScape® provides the answers!

Typically 40 to 60% of your water bill is used for irrigation. Native and adapted plants use 80% less water after they are established and can tolerate even the harshest Texas weather. North Texans can learn more about using native and adapted plants by attending community events planned for the fifth annual March is Texas SmartScape® Month or by visiting www.txsmartscape.com.

For the past five years, Texas SmartScape® has helped homeowners learn to use native and adapted plants that require less water, fertilizers, and pesticides to beautify their yards. Whether you want to create a new landscape, rejuvenate an old landscape or just create a new flower garden, Texas SmartScape® has the tools to help you succeed. The SmartScape® web tool provides information on landscape design and maintenance, as well as a database that includes plants and trees that will thrive in our region. The plant selection search will display a picture of the plant and other information to help you select the best plant for the right spot. Using the Texas SmartScape® plant palette will not only create a garden to match a person’s taste, it will also create a Texas garden…one that will survive the rains of spring, droughts of summer, and cold snaps of winter, while also providing a home for native birds and butterflies.

SmartScape provides the following watering tips to help you conserve water this season:

• 50% of your irrigation can be lost to evaporation. Water between 8pm and 10am to avoid this.
• Minimize irrigation runoff. Reduce water bills - Smartscape® shows you how.
• Develop deep roots!! Deep, infrequent watering helps plants thrive!
• Use 3" of organic mulch in bed areas to reduce watering frequency.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn to help maintain moisture.
• Measure how much water you’re placing on the lawn to ensure you aren't watering too much!
• Don't water in the rain - install a rain sensor on irrigation systems.
• Drip irrigation is more efficient; it delivers almost 95% of the water to plants.
• Water every 5 to 7 days in the summer and every 15 to 20 in the winter.

Just in time to prepare for this year’s planting season, residents can learn how to SmartScape® in their own backyards through several community events being planned to teach the how’s and why’s of SmartScaping. To find out what cities, counties and organizations have planned Texas SmartScape® Month activities please visit www.dfwstormwater.com.

SmartScape Month Events Around the Region

For more details please visit www.nctcog.org/envir/SEEclean/stormwater/meetings/calendar/index.asp.

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