BEST PRACTICES

Even when not required by environmental regulations, the following best practices are recommended.

To minimize the consumption of fresh water associated with your campus' landscaping and grounds maintenance activities, consider the following best practices:

1. Use native or other low water use plants (e.g., ground cover).
2. Plant drought resistant grass and consider reducing the turf area of lawns.
3. Avoid over fertilizing lawns. (The application of fertilizers increases the need for water.)
4. Use fertilizers that contain slow-release, water-insoluble forms of nitrogen.
5. Group plants according to similar water use requirements. For example, the highest water use plants should be placed nearest the house where shade and rainfall runoff can allow the plants to flourish with less supplemental water.
6. When mowing, raise the blade to at least 3 inches high, or to its highest level. Closely cut grass makes the roots work harder, requiring more water.
7. Use a layer of mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and promote plant growth. Water retaining basins also allow water to be concentrated around the plants.
8. Adjust watering habits so that the optimal range of moisture in the soil is maintained at all times.
9. Water lawns only as needed, and always water during the cool time of the day to minimize evaporation. Early morning is best, and peak water consumption hours should be avoided (4 p.m. - 9 p.m.).
10. Adjust sprinklers so that only the lawn is watered and not paved surfaces or buildings.
11. Do not water on windy days.
12. Install rain shut-off devices on in-ground irrigation systems to avoid watering lawns during rain events.
13. Use a rain gauge to determine how much rain or irrigation the lawn(s) has(have) received. Most lawns need no more than one inch per week.
14. Consider using cisterns or rain barrels to capture rainwater for use for watering plants and flowers. Place a mesh fabric, a lid or several drops of baby oil on the water surface to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.