It is not always easy to keep your lawn healthy and green in Texas, but there are several watering techniques that can make things a little easier on both your wallet and the environment.
July is the ideal time to learn about water conservation, considering it is Smart Irrigation Month in Allen. Mayor Stephen Terrell issued the proclamation during the city council meeting on June 28. It reminds residents of the need to use water resources efficiently.
While it is tempting to water the lawn frequently during summer months, over-watering can often have negative effects on the grass. Over-watering promotes disease, weed and fungus growth and generally makes the grass unhealthy. To avoid this, residents should only water for long enough to soak into the root zone, and should only water when the soil is dry.
Residents can also eliminate water waste by choosing to water during cooler times of the day, when less evaporation will occur. This falls in line with the city's Water Conservation & Resource Management plan, which prohibits sprinkler use between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from April 1 to Oct. 31.
To help residents conserve, the city offers a rebate to help offset the cost of retrofitting your existing sprinkler system with SMART irrigation technology. H2Ome Improvement rebates are also available for rain/freeze sensors and rain barrels.
City of Allen Water Conservation provides landscaping resources, irrigation tips and more in their monthly newsletter.