Follow Washington

County’s watering

schedule guide,

found here.

Most of us give our

lawns more water

than needed. Next

time you turn on your

sprinklers, place an

empty tuna can in the

yard. Once the can is

full, you’ve given your

lawn all the water it

needs.

When it’s windy, wait

to water. During

windy weather, more

water evaporates and

less gets to your grass

or plants.

Choose water smart

plants that are suited

for the Chihuahuan

Desert.

Use an automatic

shut-off nozzle on

your hose to save

hundreds of gallons

of water while you

wash your car.

Check your irrigation

system for clogged,

broken, or missing

sprinkler heads. If

you’re not the do-it

yourself type, go with

a pro —look for an

irrigation

professional.

Consider a WaterSense® 

Smart Irrigation Controller.

Examine points

where the sprinkler

heads connect to

pipes/hoses. If water

is pooling in your

landscape or you have

large wet areas, you

could have a leak in

your system. A leak as

small as the tip of a

ballpoint pen (1/32nd

of an inch) can waste

about 6,300 gallons

of water per month.

Direct your

sprinklers to apply

water only to your

lawn or prized plants.

Make sure you are

not watering the

driveway, house, or

sidewalk.

Adjust your lawn

mower to the height

of 1.5 to 2 inches.

Taller grass shades

roots and holds soil

moisture better than

short grass.

Leave lawn clippings

to decompose on your

grass. Clippings

provide nutrients,

help cool the ground

and retain moisture.

Aerate your lawn

periodically to

improve air flow and

compaction. Holes

every six inches will

allow water to reach

the roots, rather than

run off the surface.

Let your lawn go

dormant (brown)

during the winter.

Dormant grass only

needs to be watered

every three to four

weeks, less if it rains.

Remember to weed

your lawn and garden

regularly so that

weeds don’t compete

with other plants for

nutrients and water.

Hire a qualified

professional to install

your irrigation

system and keep it

working properly and

efficiently. A licensed

irrigator is the way

to go!

Use fertilizers

sparingly. While they

promote plant

growth, they also

increase water

consumption.

Instead of building a

private pool, join a

community pool.

Use a pool cover to

help keep your pool

clean, reduce

chemical use and

prevent water loss

through evaporation.

Make sure your

swimming pool,

fountain and/or pond

is equipped with

recirculating pumps.

Minimize or

eliminate the use of

waterfalls and sprays

in your pool. Aeration

increases

evaporation.

Winterize outdoor

spigots when

temperatures dip

below freezing to

prevent pipes from

leaking or bursting.

Use a commercial car

wash that recycles

water.

Wash your pets

outdoors, in an area

of your lawn that

needs water.

When cleaning out

fish tanks, give the

nutrient-rich water to

your non-edible

plants.

Use a broom instead

of a hose to clean

patios, sidewalks and

driveways.

Evaporative coolers

require annual

seasonal

maintenance check.

If you have an

evaporative cooler,

direct the water drain

to plants in your

landscape.

Report broken pipes,

leaky hydrants, and

water waste to

property owners or to

the LDWA.

Know where your

master water shut-off

valve is located. If a

pipe bursts, this

could save hundreds

of gallons of water

and prevent property

damage.