Water conservation is all the rage right now and for good reason. Homeowners tend to be more aware of their impact on the environment and seek water-wise landscaping solutions. Others want to reduce water consumption to save money and/or because they live in a part of the country that has imposed restrictions on the amount of water they can use.
Whatever your motivation is, sustainable landscaping that is also the highlight in your neighborhood can be easy to implement and actually quite rewarding, especially with Online Stone Solutions as your trusted partner.
Here are 5 water-saving tips from your friends at OSS:
1. Incorporate stones to help reduce irrigation evaporation
A water-wise landscape will typically utilize stones and boulders, which stay cooler than the environment and are effective at holding and retaining moisture. There are many ways to use stones for water retention, including building a stone path or creek along the garden bed to reduce water run-off and evaporation, creating a rain garden, or using pebbles and crushed stone to make long-lasting mulch.
2. Use mulch
A solid layer of mulch will help you to conserve water and preserve your garden beds. Using mulch reduces water evaporation and loss, minimizes weed growth, and keeps your soil cool and nutrient-rich. Mulch can take many forms, including crushed stone, river rock, decomposed granite, wood chips, and leaves. Inorganic mulches in the form of stone have several advantages over the organic variety. They do not need to be replenished nearly as often as their substantial weight makes them difficult to displace by the forces of water and wind. They also don’t provide a growing medium for weeds to take hold like organic type mulches.
3. Use drought tolerant plants
One of the most effective ways to conserve water is to furnish your landscape with drought tolerant plants that are native to your specific region and environment. Check with your local nurseries for the best options for your home. Recommended plants vary from region to region.
4. Select smaller plants
While trees and larger plants can help with water retention, smaller plants require less water and will drastically cut down on the amount of water needed to sustain your garden and landscape.
5. Remove Weeds
Weeds are more than a nuisance – to quench their thirst, they divert water away from your plants and flowers. Granted, pulling weeds is not everyone’s idea of a good time. To reduce weed growth, try using landscape fabric under your mulch; we recommend a nonwoven geo-textile fabric which reduces moisture evaporation and also makes pulling weeds much easier. It’s also eco-friendly!
Let’s talk next steps: If you have a professional landscaper at your disposal, ask him to create a water-wise landscaping plan. Now granted, most of us don’t have the disposable income to afford a pro, or we’re weekend warriors who just prefer doing the work ourselves. Either way, what’s important to remember is that decorative stones, in addition to beautifying your yard, can save you water and money too.
Do-it-yourself home landscapers depend on Online Stone Solutions because of the selection of stones that we offer, the convenience of being able to order online, and our deep product knowledge. If you haven’t already, take a moment to browse our gallery to see our wide variety of water-wise stones.
Water conversation starts with you – one home can truly make a difference. For the biggest impact, though, water conservation should be a community-wide effort. Feel free to share this post online and with your neighbors so they can also do their part to help conserve our most precious resource – water.