Timing is criticalThe best time to water your lawn is earlymorning (4-6 am). Watering mid-day willresult in a high rate of evaporation and sun-

burnt grass, and will leave grass vulnerable to diseasefrom mildew and fungus.

Give it a restIf your lawn “fades,” don’t panic. Grassnaturally becomes dormant during hot, dryperiods. It will revive quickly after a steady

rainfall or in cooler weather.• One inch of water per week (rain plus watering)

should be plenty. Never water when it’s windy, rainy orvery hot. After heavy rains you may not need to waterfor 10-14 days.

• Raise the mower blade level to 2-3 inches or more.Longer grass retains more moisture because it shadesthe roots. It also encourages deeper rooting, requiresless fertilizer and competes better against weeds.

• Never water faster than the soil can absorb it. Avoidpuddling and runoff.

• Be sure your hose has a shut-off nozzle. A hose withouta nozzle can spout 10 gallons or more per minute!

• Don’t fertilize in the summer. New growth requiresmore water.Apply in early spring and/or fall.

• Aerate your soil in the spring and fall to aid waterabsorption and retention.

Prepare your new lawn properlyGrass needs at least 3-6 inches of verygood topsoil. Rich loam mixed with peatmoss or composted leaves will hold

moisture and allow for good, deep root development. Thekind of grass you grow matters. Lawns planted withfescue grasses do better than bluegrasses duringperiods of low rainfall and are slower to go dormant.

Automatic sprinklersStudies have shown that automaticsprinkler systems often use 20-30% morewater than hand-held hose watering. Make

sure the timer or “controller” is set to water eachlandscape zone efficiently. Install a rain or soil moisturesensor that turns the system off when it rains or ifmoisture is present in the soil.

Features to look for when selecting anautomatic sprinkler system• At least 3 independent programs to allow for watering

different parts of the yard on different days. • Run times from 1 to 200 minutes.• 3 start times per program.• Odd, even, weekly and interval program capability.• Rain shut-off device capability.

Tips for landscape, garden andflower careThe amount of water you use (and can save)outdoors depends on how you water as well

as the size, type and location of your lawn, shrubs and gardens.

Plan and design your garden for efficientoutdoor wateringBe aware of the various zones in your yard (hot/sunny,cool/shady, moist, dry, etc.) and plan your gardens andplantings accordingly. For example, if you have a hot, dryzone, select plants that can endure hot, dry conditions.

Stones or pebbles are good for shady areas, but give offtoo much heat when used near the house. Ground covers,such as ivy or pachysandra, also prevent evaporationaround established shrubs and ornamental trees.

Mulch to keep roots cool and moistMulch can serve as ground cover that reduces evaporationfrom soil and reduces the number of weeds that wouldotherwise compete with the plant for available soil moisture.Mulching reduces water evaporation from soil, and hindersweed growth in a planting bed.

Cluster plants that require extra careIf you choose shrubs, flowers or vegetables that need lotsof moisture, place them near each other. You’ll save timeand water by watering just one area of your yard.

Water your lawn only as neededFrequent light watering can actually weaken your lawn byencouraging shallow roots that are less tolerant of dryperiods and more susceptible to insect damage.

Roots can hold plenty of moisture even after severaldays without rain. Before watering, look for signs that it’sneeded: patchy areas, a general change in color orfootprints that remain in the grass long after being made.

Test your soil for drynessWater only when the soil is dry to a depth of1.5 inches. Make sure the water soaks down3-4 inches.This encourages deep root growth.

MWRA water supply is sufficient to meetnormal community water demands.However, we tend to use more water in thesummer, so there are opportunities toconserve. These tips will show you ways touse water more efficiently outdoors, makegarden maintenance easier, and save money.

Summer is animportant time to

save water

FOR MORE INFORMATION:Massachusetts Water Resources AuthorityCharlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129 617-242-6000, www.MWRA.com.

Acer ginnalaPinus nigraPinus thunbergiiCornus masPltanus x acerifoliaQuercus alba

Cytisus scopariusChaenomeles specoisaJuniperus sp.PotentillaBuddleia davidiiHibiscus syriacus ‘Diana’Ilex verticillataPinus mugo

Arctostaphylos uva-ursiLiriope spicataViola sp.Cerastium tomentosum

Aster Novae-angliaeGaillardia aristataCoreopsis verticillataEchninacea purpureaLavendula ‘Hidcote Blue’Sedum sp.

HemerocallisAchillea sp.

Cosmos sp.GazaniaDimorpotheca sp.Portulaca gradifloraHeliochrysum bracteatumDianthus barbatus

Organic matter will help your soilretain more moisturePeat moss, composted leaves, kitchenvegetable scraps, and grass clippings willall improve soil structure and enhancemoisture-retaining capabilities. Incorporateorganic matter into your flower andvegetable beds, preferably 12”-18” deep.

Drip irrigation and soaker hoses – the bestway to water your gardenUse a drip irrigation system or soaker hose in gardens thatneed the most water: vegetables, fruits, newly plantedtrees and shrubs, and some flower gardens. A soaker hoseis a canvas or rubber hose with perforations. It is mosteffective when it lies on top or slightly below soil leveland mulch is placed over the soil and hose. You can installthe hose in the spring and leave it in place all season.

Drip irrigation can use 30%-70% less water than overheadsprinkler systems. In general, use the drip irrigation orsoaker hose methods until the soil is moist 3-4 inchesbelow the surface.

Use rain barrelsPlace rain barrels or other large containers underdownspouts to collect rain water to use for watering yourgarden. Use a lid, mesh fabric, or several drops of baby oilon the surface of the water to prevent mosquito breeding.

For a small gardenUse a hose to apply water very slowly at thebase of each plant, not on leaves. Saucer-likebasins around each plant help concentrate

water where it is most needed – at the plant’s roots.Watering by hand is easy when there are saucers to fill up.

Low water-use plantsThere are many varieties of low water-use plants that canwithstand dry summers, and actually thrive in drier soil.Remember: all newly planted trees, shrubs, and flowersinitially need water to get established. But once established,drought tolerant plantings can survive without extra watering.

The Massachusetts Legislaturecreated MWRA in 1985 to manageand modernize water and sewerservices for 2.5 million people and5,500 business in 61 communities.While the Boston Harbor Clean-Upand the Integrated Water SupplyImprovement Program are the bestknown projects, MWRA alsomaintains over 400 miles of waterpipes, aqueducts and tunnels andover 240 miles of sewers.

Amur MapleAustrian PineJapanese Black PineCornelian CherryLondon PlaneWhite Oak

BroomFlowering QuinceJunipersCinquefoilButterfly BushRose-of-SharonWinterberryMugo Pine (dwarf)

BearberryCreeping Lilly-turfVioletsSnow-in-Summer

New England AsterCommon BlanketflowerMoonbeamPurple ConeflowerLavenderSedum (Acre, Red Carpet,Ruby Glow, Stoliniferum,Spectabile)DaylilyYarrow, ‘The Pearl’, ‘SummerPastels’

CosmosGazaniaMarigoldPortulacaStrawflowerSweet William

20-25’50’6-10’20-25’50’50’

5-6’6-10’2-9’3-4’6-10’6-8’8-10’3-4’

6-8”6-8”6-8”6-8”

15-30”24-36”24-36”24-36”12-36”18-24”

18-48”18-36”

3’6-18”4-6”8”3’2’

TREES

SHRUBS

GROUND COVER

PERENNIALS

ANNUALS/BIENNIALS

COMMON NAME BOTANICAL NAME HEIGHT

low water-use plants

TIPS FOR

GARDENING &

LANDSCAPING

MASSACHUSETTS WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY

WATEROUTDOOR

CONSERVATION

MASSACHUSETTS WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY

WATERINDOOR

CONSERVATION

For tips on how to usewater more efficientlyindoors, see ourbrochure - INDOOR WATERCONSERVATION.

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