Maintaining a waterSmart Landscape waterSmart is a program of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division in partnership with the University Georgia Cooperative Extension.

By participating in this program, I can receive a certificate that… Commits me to reducing the amount of water I use in and around my home or business. Commits me to reducing the amount of water I use in and around my home or business. Allows me to water my landscape on a limited basis, if I live in the northern third of Georgia where outdoor water use is otherwise banned. Allows me to water my landscape on a limited basis, if I live in the northern third of Georgia where outdoor water use is otherwise banned.

Water Facts The same amount of water is on earth today as when the earth was created. The same amount of water is on earth today as when the earth was created. 97% is of the water is salt water in the oceans and seas. 97% is of the water is salt water in the oceans and seas. 2% of the earth’s water is tied up in polar ice caps. 2% of the earth’s water is tied up in polar ice caps. 1% is fresh water available for drinking, bathing, and cooking. 1% is fresh water available for drinking, bathing, and cooking.

Georgia’s Water 9.5 million people depend on a clean water supply. 9.5 million people depend on a clean water supply. The population is increasing by more than 2.2 % a year making GA the 5 th fastest growing state in the nation. The population is increasing by more than 2.2 % a year making GA the 5 th fastest growing state in the nation. © 2006 National Drought Mitigation Center

Georgia’s Water Most of GA’s water sources originate in the state. Most of GA’s water sources originate in the state. Alabama and Florida also depend on these water sources. Alabama and Florida also depend on these water sources.

Georgia’s Water Water utilities throughout the state are permitted by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to withdraw water and deliver it to their customers. Water utilities throughout the state are permitted by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to withdraw water and deliver it to their customers. In many Georgia counties are facing an exceptional drought that is only seen once in 150 years. In many Georgia counties are facing an exceptional drought that is only seen once in 150 years. In November 2007, water utilities were ordered to reduce consumption by 10% over last winter in response to the drought. In November 2007, water utilities were ordered to reduce consumption by 10% over last winter in response to the drought.

Georgia’s Water Water utilities are required to enforce the Outdoor Water Use Rule which bans outdoor watering in the northern 1/3 of Georgia. Water utilities are required to enforce the Outdoor Water Use Rule which bans outdoor watering in the northern 1/3 of Georgia.

Georgia needs healthy landscapes and landscapes need water A healthy landscape says welcome to my home or business. A healthy landscape says welcome to my home or business. Gives our children a safe place to play. Gives our children a safe place to play.

Landscapes… Produce the oxygen we breathe. Produce the oxygen we breathe. Reduce carbon dioxide. Reduce carbon dioxide. Moderate air temperatures resulting in lower heating and cooling costs. Moderate air temperatures resulting in lower heating and cooling costs. One tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, equaling 11,000 miles of car emissions.

Landscapes… Filter air and water pollutants, noise and dust. Filter air and water pollutants, noise and dust. Reduce stormwater runoff. Reduce stormwater runoff. Provide groundwater recharge. Provide groundwater recharge.

The goal of a waterSmart Landscape is to maintain healthy lawns and gardens while using less water.

waterSmart Tips Know how much water your plants need. Know how much water your plants need. Put the “right” plants in the “right” places. Put the “right” plants in the “right” places. Mulch. Mulch. Collect A/C condensate & rainwater. Collect A/C condensate & rainwater. Use less water indoors. Use less water indoors.

More plants are killed in Georgia from over-watering than from drought.

Shrubs: Apply 1 GALLON of water per foot of plant height up to once a week. Lawns: Apply up to 1 INCH of water per application up to once a week. Trees: Apply 1 INCH of water under entire canopy up to once a week. (for larger trees don’t water area within 4 feet of trunk) RULE OF THUMB

Target water to plants that show signs of stress such as Gray/green Color Gray/green Color Wilting Wilting Dying Branches Dying Branches Use a hand-held hose with water nozzle or a watering can.

Water at night or early morning to avoid losing water to evaporation. Water Deeply! Light, frequent watering causes shallow rooting and increases need for water.

Soak don’t sprinkle. Minimize use of spray irrigation Soak don’t sprinkle. NOT

Use Drip Irrigation Drip uses 30% to 50% less water than sprinklers.Drip uses 30% to 50% less water than sprinklers. Drip avoids spraying foliage so diseases are less likely to occur.Drip avoids spraying foliage so diseases are less likely to occur. Drip waters the plant instead of the area.Drip waters the plant instead of the area.

In-ground irrigation system users should… Have a regular system audit. Have a regular system audit. –Check for leaks. –Consider new water saving equipment. Maximize areas using drip irrigation. Maximize areas using drip irrigation. Fogging from using too much pressure. Broken Pipe

waterSmart Tips Know how much water your plants need. Know how much water your plants need. Put the “right” plants in the “right” places. Put the “right” plants in the “right” places. Mulch. Mulch. Collect A/C condensate & rainwater. Collect A/C condensate & rainwater. Use less water indoors. Use less water indoors.

Select Plants Adapted to the Site and the Stresses of the Environment Drought tolerance is important, but also consider potential insect and disease problems, sunlight and soil requirements.

Use Turfgrass for a Purpose Aesthetic Value (Welcome Mat) Aesthetic Value (Welcome Mat) Recreational Surface Recreational Surface Erosion Control Erosion Control Minimize the amount of irrigated turfgrass.

Drought Tolerance of Turfgrasses Hybrid Bermuda Zoysia Zoysia St. Augustinegrass St. Augustinegrass Centipede Centipede Tall Fescue Tall Fescue Most Least

waterSmart Tips Know how much water your plants need. Know how much water your plants need. Put the “right” plants in the “right” places. Put the “right” plants in the “right” places. Mulch. Mulch. Collect A/C condensate & rainwater. Collect A/C condensate & rainwater. Use less water indoors. Use less water indoors.

Benefits of Mulch Prevents water loss from the soil. Prevents water loss from the soil. Prevents soil-borne diseases. Prevents soil-borne diseases. Insulates the roots of plants from extreme heat and cold. Insulates the roots of plants from extreme heat and cold. Reduces weed competition. Reduces weed competition.

Best Mulch OrganicFine-texturedNon-matting

Mulch NOT PICTURE OF PINESTRAW PICTURE OF Rock Mulch

How Much Mulch? 3 to 5 inches deep is sufficient 1 bale of pine straw covers approximately 50 sq. ft.

waterSmart Tips Know how much water your plants need. Know how much water your plants need. Put the “right” plants in the “right” places. Put the “right” plants in the “right” places. Mulch. Mulch. Collect A/C condensate & rainwater. Collect A/C condensate & rainwater. Use less water indoors. Use less water indoors.

Watering with A/C condensate and harvested rainwater is always allowed.

Condensate Harvesting Potential AC production Example: 10 gallons/day x 7 to convert to gallons per week 70 gallons/week x 4 to convert to gallons per month ~280 gallons/month Need ~7+ gallons/day to get 280 gallons/month.

Condensate Pumps Pump ~25 gallons/hour with 15’ head Cost ~ $50

Rainwater Harvesting Potential (see next slide)

Month Example Rainfall (inches) 624 (gallons/ inch) Volume(gallons) April1.36” May0.26” June4.37”6242,727 July3.42”6242,134 August1.19” September1.46” October2.89”6241,803 November0.93’ Rainfall on a 20 x 50’ roof area (1,000 ft 2 )

waterSmart Tips Know how much water your plants need. Know how much water your plants need. Put the “right” plants in the “right” places. Put the “right” plants in the “right” places. Mulch. Mulch. Collect A/C Condensate & Rainwater. Collect A/C Condensate & Rainwater. Use less water indoors. Use less water indoors.

Water Facts Average family of 4 can use 400 gallons of water every day. Average family of 4 can use 400 gallons of water every day. Approximately 70 percent of household water is used indoors and 30 percent is devoted to outdoor uses. Approximately 70 percent of household water is used indoors and 30 percent is devoted to outdoor uses.

By participating in this program I can receive a certificate that… Commits me to reducing the amount of water I use in other areas of my home. Commits me to reducing the amount of water I use in other areas of my home. Allows me to water my landscape on a limited basis, if I live in the northern third of Georgia where outdoor water use is otherwise banned. Allows me to water my landscape on a limited basis, if I live in the northern third of Georgia where outdoor water use is otherwise banned.

Next Steps Commit to reducing the amount of water you use in other areas of your home. Commit to reducing the amount of water you use in other areas of your home. Take the quiz that follows this presentation. Score 70% or better. Take the quiz that follows this presentation. Score 70% or better.

Next Steps Print a certificate of completion. Print a certificate of completion. Post the certificate prominently in your yard. Post the certificate prominently in your yard. Your name and address will be added to a statewide database for use by water utilities. Your name and address will be added to a statewide database for use by water utilities.

Next Steps Conserve water inside the home. Conserve water inside the home. Maintain a waterSmart landscape. Maintain a waterSmart landscape. Only when necessary, water landscapes 1 day per week within the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m. Only when necessary, water landscapes 1 day per week within the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m.

For additional information on waterSmart Landscapes  Call your local UGA Cooperative Extension Office at ASK-UGA1.  Consult a landscape professional.  Visit a local garden center.  Go to  Visit the UGA Extension Service web site:

Author: Gary L. Wade, Ph.D. UGA, Department of Horticulture & Todd Hurt UGA Center for Urban Agriculture The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Maintaining a waterSmart Landscape waterSmart is a program of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division in partnership with the University Georgia Cooperative Extension.