HOW CAN I MAKE MY WATER MORE PRODUCTIVE IN THE OKANAGAN?
Put it on the night shift. Water between dusk and dawn
Putting water to work during the coolest part of the day prevents evaporation. A good rule of thumb is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Check with your Okanagan water utility for specific watering restrictions in your area.
Okay, but how am I supposed to water my lawn while I’m asleep?
Get a timer! Did you know that only 12% of stand-alone sprinklers in Canada are used with a timer? Let’s change that stat together. Most hardware stores supply timers for sprinklers. Sleep like a baby while your water works the night shift.
HOW DO I MAKE WATER MORE EFFICIENT IN THE OKANAGAN?
Don’t spray and pray.
Don’t let water waste your time, effort and money! It should sprinkle your lawn or garden, not pavement.
IS MY WATER WORKING EFFECTIVELY?
Never mow low. Let it grow!
Leave grass 2-3 inches tall (5-8cm). Water stays longer when grass is longer. Leaving your grass longer slows evaporation from the soil, making it work more effectively!
Leave grass clippings as mulch.
Leaving grass clippings on your lawn helps feed the lawn and keep moisture, requiring less water and reducing evaporation.
Aerate your lawn and top dress with compost.
Aerating the lawn in early spring or fall improves water penetration. Water also works best with organic products like compost, which minimize over-fertilizing and help prevent storm water pollution.
In spring and fall, add a new layer of mulch every year.
Apply a layer of organic mulch your beds to help your plants retain water by insulating the roots. If you have sensitive plants, add a layer of straw or burlap underneath the mulch for further protection from winter temps and to lock in moisture.
WHAT LANDSCAPING PLANTS WORK WELL IN THE OKANAGAN?
Embrace Xeriscape. Pick plants suitable for our dry climate.
Okanagan water works best with plants suitable for our dry climate: drought-tolerant turf, native and low-water variety plants.
Check out our Make Water Work Plant Collection, perfect for Okanagan gardens which includes over 100 perennials, grasses, trees, and shrubs that grow in our arid Okanagan environment.
You don’t have to do it alone – learn more about xeriscape practices in the Okanagan through our Partner Okanagan Xeriscape Association.
HOW MUCH WATER IS ENOUGH FOR MY OKANAGAN GARDEN?
One inch a week will do.
Most Okanagan lawns need just 2.5cm (one inch) of water per week—about the depth of a tuna can.
Watering deeply and less often promotes deep, healthy root growth. If you’re watering deeply but not seeing results, the problem may be inadequate topsoil. Try top dressing with half an inch of compost, then over-seeding for a thick and vigorous lawn.
Tune up your irrigation.
Water works better when paired with a properly running irrigation system. Fix leaks and broken or clogged sprinkler heads. Reduce run times when weather is cooler. Don’t know how? Go with a certified irrigation pro!
Install water-saving irrigation products.
Save money on your water bill by using high efficiency irrigation, like drip or microjet, for shrubs and gardens.
Find what you need for irrigation with our Partner Source Pro in Kelowna.
It’s ok to be a drip! Install a drip irrigation system
Save water on your shrubs, trees and gardens with drip irrigation. Drip irrigation is much more efficient; 90% of water reaches the plant. It is also energy efficient because it works on low water pressure.
Collect and use rainwater. It’s free!
Rain barrels collect fresh, naturally soft and chemical-free water that is great for container plants, flower beds, and food gardens.