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Outdoor Water Tips

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Living in Metro Vancouver means we’re fortunate to live in a temperate climate. However, we often turn to water as a tool we can always rely on while it’s actually a limited resource that isn’t always the best option for our needs. From cleaning the car to watering outdoor plants to maintaining decks, the following tips help reduce use of treated drinking water for outdoor activities and offer alternatives to common habits.​​​

Top Tips Garden Tips

 

 

<div class="ExternalClass99DBFB88336848C3AA8BDF96837879B7"><p><strong>Mow grass to ankle height </strong> – the shade from taller grass allows roots to establish, helping your lawn retain water.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/mow-high.jpg, Mow high https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/mow-high.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass57D03483104C4EC8883F595F69ACA7E5"><p><strong>Aerate your lawn</strong> in the spring and fall to increase the flow of water to your lawn's roots.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/aerate.jpg, aerate https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/aerate.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass9B1BE54200444C099B6CACAC126C577C"><p><strong>Apply lime</strong> in spring and fall to adjust acidic soils to a neutral pH that protects grass from heat and lack of water.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/lime.jpg, use lime https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/lime.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassE3C06EFB8B3A4BDCAA9D6D1B024DF5D6"><p> <strong>Adjust your irrigation controller</strong> as the seasons, weather, and watering restrictions change.</p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/irrigation-schedule.jpg, Irrigation Schedule https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/irrigation-schedule.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass2CF77CEF600245A3B29D0CE1ED9CD3D3"><p><strong>Remove thick thatch </strong>in late springe or early fall to let water reach grass roots.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/thatch.jpg, Remove Thatch https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/thatch.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassAB694DB0DA0B403C81A057F30F84C687"><p>Walk around your property to <br> <strong>look for spongy ground or pooling </strong>where leaking pipes might be hidden. If detected, call a plumber.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/outdoor-leaks.jpg, Outdoor leaks https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/outdoor-leaks.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass0BACADD67B224FF4A2DA07EF53ECD775"><p><strong>Overseed with micro clover</strong>. Micro clover lawns stay greener than traditional lawns through summer dry periods and are generally unaffected by wet winters.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/clover.jpg, Clover https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/clover.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass7EE9A21E35314715B5ECB5C27324BE8E"><p><strong>Weed regularly</strong>. Weeds can establish roots that compete for nutrients and water.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/weeding.jpg, Weeding https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/weeding.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass2305FBA151AF46E2AEF8378247E915A0"><p><strong>Know how </strong>to turn off your property’s water. This could save thousands of litres of water if a pipe breaks and prevent further damage to your home.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/shut-off-valve.jpg, Shut off valve https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/shut-off-valve.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass079CA4554E0944DFB1BAB1E884F6383D"><p><strong>Overseed</strong> with a low-maintenance lawn seed mixture. Plan to overseed at least a month before the start of watering restrictions to give new life to patchy lawns and add thickness to healthy ones.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/overseed.jpg, Overseed https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/overseed.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass2657116DC1AF458B83ACD6AF8FE56AB4"><p>An <strong>hour a week</strong> of watering or rain is all you need for a healthy lawn. It allows moisture to soak into the soil and builds strong roots.​ Overwatering drowns roots and encourages weeds.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/timer-hose.jpg, Timer hose https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/timer-hose.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass6078A2F9D7024FFB88F52D10CF5075C7"><p><strong>Position your sprinkler </strong>so it only waters your lawn and plants, not driveways or sidewalks.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/water-lawn.jpg, water lawn https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/water-lawn.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassDA9876EE922A4032BA06216933BD3150"><p> <strong>Replace broken, bent, or stuck sprinkler heads</strong>. One broken sprinkler head can waste thousands of litres of drinking water by spilling/spraying water onto sidewalks and driveways.</p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/broken-sprinkler.jpg, Broken Sprinkler https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/broken-sprinkler.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass816CBFD32C384EBD834F6047A0728703"><p><strong>Let your lawn go golden and dormant </strong>in the summer. With proper preparation and care, its green will return with autumn rains.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/gold-lawn.jpg, Lawn gold https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/gold-lawn.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass1526FA16E840422CB00164CC674EEDA7"><p>Flush irrigation systems before winter to get rid of any lingering water that might freeze and crack pipes and sprinklers.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/flush-irrigation.jpg, Flush Irrigation https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/flush-irrigation.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassD26511487E1C40D5982C533A144FC75F"><div><p>Program irrigation systems to water deeply but infrequently, within the regulated times.<br></p></div></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/water-deep.jpg, Water Deep https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/water-deep.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass6F295C5517874002A89ECA05A9A4EB97"><p>Try turf alternatives like micro clover, tapestry lawns, moss lawns, and sedum mats. Find a low-maintenance, waterwise alternative that suits you using the<a href="http://www.growgreenguide.ca/" target="_blank"> Grow Green Guide</a>.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/turf.jpg, Turf https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/turf.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassB8D0E1F44D5C4D7F8F743C8014293643"><p><strong>Leave grass clippings</strong> on your lawn after mowing. It helps reduce water evaporation so you can water less often.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/grass-clipping.jpg, Grass Clippigs https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/grass-clipping.jpg

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