Summer is a water-intensive season: its outdoor use can represent up to 50% of residential consumption, mainly due to lawns, vegetable patches and gardens. But how to be more eco-responsible? By changing a few daily habits to generate a real impact.
Most cities and municipalities are making citizens aware of the intelligent use of our blue gold. Some stand out in their approach, such as Ville de Laval.
For several years, it has received the 5-star certificate of the Excellence in Drinking Water Program from Réseau Environnement. It has also just launched the “A jewel in every drop” awareness campaign to invite citizens to reduce their consumption of drinking water this summer.
Lawn, vegetable garden or flower garden, give them water in the early morning or when the sun has set. In short, when it is less hot! This trick will prevent the water from evaporating too quickly and therefore being wasted.
In Laval, as in other cities in Quebec, a by-law reducing watering periods allows substantial water savings, since it minimizes abuse. In fact, the lawn actually needs no more than 3 combined hours of watering per week.
You could also use a rain gauge to assess whether you have watered enough: 2.5 cm of water per week should be enough.
If your lawn looks great and, in a few days of heat wave, it turns yellow, do not water it abundantly. Indeed, during these few days of intense heat, it goes dormant in order to minimize its water needs. It will probably regain its green color later.
By opting for a rain collector connected to a gutter, it will be possible to store water without you putting the slightest effort into it. Later, you can use it to water your vegetable garden. In this regard, Ville de Laval is offering a grant of up to $70 for the purchase of a barrel to collect rainwater.
You could also install a gutter downspout extension to make a path for water from the roof to reach your flower beds.
A trick to not watering your lawn too often is to give it iron health. To do this, leave it a length of 8 cm. This will make it easier for the herbs to retain their moisture. It is also a way to slow down the appearance of weeds!
You could also do grasscycling, that is to say leaving the lawn mowed on the ground so that it turns into fertilizer to fertilize the soil. Economical and practical!
In addition, be aware that peat containing a single species will be more vulnerable to heat waves, insects and other natural aggressions. For a lawn that requires less maintenance, so less water, consider mixing it with clover or thyme.
Plants here are much more adapted to our climate than exotic species, which is why they are more resistant. For a garden that requires less water, choose native plants such as common milkweed, white everlasting, blue iris or two-leaved mitrel.
Why not swap the usual lawn for other materials that require little maintenance and no watering? A mulch surface will be attractive in addition to keeping the soil cool, while stones will be practical and chic to accompany your plants.
There are so many ways to reduce your water consumption! For more advice, visit the Ville de Laval website.
