As the majority of our homes in the greater North Phoenix area hit that 20-year age mark, our yards, which tend to be an extension of our living space, are likely in need of landscape improvements and upgrades, which could quickly add up to some significant water savings.
Keeping in mind that 70 percent of the average household’s water use is from outdoor use, there are a lot of ways to still enjoy a lush looking yard, with significantly less water use.
Valley Vibe reached out to a few of the area’s longtime landscaping and irrigation experts to see what’s trending in our outdoor living spaces, and how homeowners can save a little green on their water consumption.
Consider replacing grass with artificial turf or cooling travertine to help cut water consumption.
Photo courtesy SonoranScapes
PHOTO COURTESY Straight line Landscape
Repair/Replace Irrigation Components
Check your outdoor irrigation lines for leaks regularly and perform repairs promptly. If your irrigation ground components are over 15 years old, it’s time to consider full replacement.
Make sure other irrigation components are in good condition, including valves and pressure regulators. “When the irrigation is old, it has a tendency to split and become heat rotted over time. If you’re replacing sections of it and it just keeps breaking, it’s time to consider full replacement,” says James Cutri of SonoranScapes.
When homeowners spot a puddle or leak in their yard or a substantially higher water bill, Jennifer Kopp of Aloha Irrigation says “Many people just turn the water back to avoid the higher bill or puddles instead of addressing the cause which is split piping in the ground. Some replace the irrigation control timer or the valves and hope that this will solve the problem but they are seldom the true culprit,” she added.
With full replacement, homeowners can expect to have their whole yard repiped with a heavy-duty product, along with new valves and pressure regulators.
Install a Smart Irrigation Timer
WaterSense-labeled irrigation controllers can replace or upgrade clock-based controllers to better tailor watering schedules for landscapes.
There’s an app for almost everything these days, and the smart irrigation timer is no exception. A modern update to the clock-based controllers, the smart technologies in a WaterSense-labeled irrigation controller can override scheduled irrigation when plants don’t need water. It connects through wifi and monitors weather, temperature and humidity, adjusting automatically on a daily basis.
And, the City of Phoenix is offering its residential customers a rebate of up to $75 on the purchase and installation of one. [See article “Conserve Water & Save Your Wallet” for more on City rebates].
SonoranScapes installs them regularly, says Cutri. And, while he said the cost can be roughly $250 more than a traditional irrigation controller, most homeowners will save more than the cost difference within the first year.
“We looked at water bills of 15 or so different customers in Anthem with larger yards and a lot of plants on Epcor Water and found they’re saving an average of $500-600 a year in water savings with a smart irrigation controller,” Cutri told Valley Vibe.
Soil moisture-based irrigation controllers work by detecting the amount of moisture in the ground. Weather-based irrigation controllers tailor watering times based on local weather and landscape conditions.
According to the EPA, both types of WaterSense-labeled controllers can be purchased as stand-alone controllers or installed with existing controllers as an add-on that can be used in tandem with an existing clock-based device to help water more efficiently.
While Aloha Irrigation agreed the smart irrigation timers can be helpful, Kopp cautioned against being fully reliant on programming the timer and forgetting to check on it regularly. She said these timers are often programmed to skip a watering cycle when there is a chance of rain, but if that rain doesn’t come and the water cycle is skipped, it might not be beneficial to the plants in the yard.
Photo courtesy SonoranScapes
Installation of Artificial Turf & Drought-Tolerant Plants
Gone are the days of installing sod and overseeding grass on a seasonal basis. Cutri said he almost never installs sod anymore and one of his company’s most common requests is the removal of real grass and replacement with artificial turf. “When you’re looking at water savings, maintenance costs over time and overseeding it in the winter, itʼs about a 3-4 year return on the investment of the cost of the purchase and installation of synthetic turf,” Cutri said.
He also stressed, “It’s not just a way to save more money, itʼs a way to be more responsible. To water a real lawn at this point is almost just irresponsible.”
Artificial turf is basically maintenance-free, too. With just blowing debris off and hosing it down occasionally, Cutri says turf can usually last 10-12 years. [See page 3 for a turf savings offer from SonoranScapes.]
Backyard after turf and travertine installation.
Photos courtesy SonoranScapes
Another common theme is incorporating a mixture of cactus and other drought-tolerant plants that can still give your yard a nice lush look, while using much less water. Choose xeriscape by planting native or desert-adapted trees, shrubs, and groundcover that require little water once established. The Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has published a guide with planting and growing tips for more than 200 low-water-use trees, shrubs, groundcover, vines, grasses, perennials and annuals. Research more on drought-tolerant plants in the desert at www.amwua.org/plants. And for other helpful tips on outdoor water conservation, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com/saving-water-outdoors.
More Trending Yard Improvements
Once you’ve got the new landscaping figured out, updating the hardscape in the yard can provide more functionality and even some energy savings.
Travertine around the pool, on the patio and walkways is really popular. Homeowners are replacing their old flagstone, concrete and cool decking with travertine, says Cutri. It’s cooler on the feet, and low maintenance as it doesn’t require sealing.
As for newer outdoor-living trends, ramadas with outdoor bars and TVs, outdoor kitchens and bar tops, new audio surround sound in lieu of rock speakers, fireplaces and new, more energy-efficient lighting and bluetooth-controlled colored landscape lighting, can change the entire look and functionality of your extended living space. SonoranScapes has been performing all of these improvements over the last 15 years, and recently added pool remodeling to its portfolio of services, including refinishing and parts replacement. Cutri says swapping out your old pool pump to a new variable-speed pump can offer further energy savings.
PHOTOS COURTESY Straight line Landscape
When and How Much to Water
Adjust irrigation controllers monthly based on plant watering needs. Text WHENTOWATER
to 33222 for monthly suggestions and reminders from the city on how to water your landscape.
Info www.amwua.info/watering to research watering suggestions.
Calculate the optimal amount of water to use in your home at www.phoenix.gov/waterservices/usage-calculator.
By Karen Goveia
[email protected]