By Edna Sussman

This year’s drought makes us sensitive not only to the need to preserve the quality of our water but also the quantity of our water. With the tremendous water usage in maintaining the many yards and gardens in Westchester we inquired as to what you can do in your yard and garden to save water.

Here is what Sarah Bruce, a horticultural extension educator at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County, had to say on the subject. In a nutshell, the advice for this drought year is to limit new plantings, and employ as many principles of Xeriscape gardening as possible.

Xeriscape gardening

Xeriscape, as a low water landscape is called, is an attractive permanent landscape that is able to withstand little water. Creating and maintaining a low water usage landscape can be done in virtually any terrain, as such a garden can be adapted to suit the individual conditions of the region. Contrary to what many may believe, a xeriscape garden need not be composed of cacti and rock gardens. In Westchester a pleasant mix of perennials, flowering bushes and trees, lawn grasses and concentrated annuals can be arranged to create a most pleasing landscape that does not require the level of water now typically used. While low water plants are a better choice, especially this year, it must be remembered that even low water plants require concerted watering in the first two years until they get established. Xeriscape landscaping incorporates seven basic principles which lead to saving water:

Plan and Design

A landscape design created with water efficiency in mind is essential. Design your garden so that plants are grouped by their water needs. Plants that require the most water, such as annuals, should be grouped together in one bright bed or placed in pots. Similarly, plants that require medium or little water should each be grouped together.

Plant Selection

Select plants based on their adaptability to your region’s soil and climate and their water demands. The table accompanying this article provides a list of just some of the low water plants that can be successfully grown in Westchester. Many of these are familiar and well loved species.

Many other beautiful plants commonly used in this area are also drought tolerant and can be identified by using available sources such as your local 4H or Cornell Cooperative Extension office.

Soil Analysis and Preparation

Adding organic matter to the soil increases the soil’s ability to absorb and store water in a form available to the plant. Such organic material as peat or compost can dramatically increase retention and penetration.

The Ashokan Reservoir in April 2002

Mulching

Mulches of organic materials such as pine bark, compost and woodchips; or inorganic materials, such as limestone or permeable plastic, not sheet plastic, conserve water by significantly reducing moisture evaporation from the soil. Mulch also discourages weeds and moderates soil temperatures.

Irrigation

Much of the water used in irrigation is lost to runoff by being applied too rapidly and some water evaporates from exposed, unmulched soil. Plants should be watered only when needed and then watered thoroughly to produce deep-roots which are more water efficient and drought enduring. Drip irrigation, which slowly applies water to soil, offers increased watering efficiency and plant performance. However, if using a sprinkler system, make sure the sprinkler heads are adjusted properly to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways.

Try to avoid a fine mist which is more susceptible to evaporation. and wind drift. Always water after 7 PM and before 9 Am to avoid excessive evaporation. The drought regulations in effect at the time of this writing limit watering even more to 7-9 AM and 7-9 PM on alternate days. The county is recommending that we not start watering our lawns this year but let the lawns be dormant.

It is even more damaging to the lawn to start watering and then stopping, a measure which may be necessary if more stringent drought measures are invoked in the coming months.

Turf Grass

Turfgrasses generally require more frequent watering and maintenance than most other landscape plants. Reducing the areas devoted to turf grasses should be the first step to reduce water demands. Carefully selecting grass seeds is also helpful.

For sunny areas, tall fescues are recommended. Fine leaf fescues, such as the more drought resistant varieties Discovery, Reliant II, Osprey, Scaldis, Ecostar, do well in shadier areas. If buying a mix, one more heavily weighted towards the fescues will require less water. The popular bluegrass and perennial ryegrass are less drought resistant and their use should be minimized.

Maintenance Techniques Mowing grass at the proper height and applying fertilizer to the lawn at the proper time and in the proper amount saves time, effort and money through reduced mowing and watering. Taller grass at 3 inches will retain water better. Minimizing fertilization will reduce growth and the need for water to sustain it. In this drought year, skipping the spring fertilization is recommended.

Source Materials

An excellent new resource for gardeners in the New York metropolitan area is the “The Water Saver’s Guide to Landscaping and Gardening” published by the Water-Wise Council of New York, Inc., in conjunction with New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and with extensive support from the Hudson Valley Regional Council and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Any inquiries about the book can be faxed to:  (845) 429-8667.

For horticultural questions, call the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester from 9 AM to 12 PM at (914) 285-4640