landscape irrigation for water conservation – table of contents

Measuring Landscape Water Use

Landscape Water Savings Calculators
Irrigation Water Checks
How to Do Your Own Water Audit
Smart Irrigation Controllers: Resources

Differences Between Sprinkler and Drip Irrigation

Which Sprinkler Type is Best for Me?
Different Kinds of Sprinkler Irrigation Systems
Drip Irrigation Systems

Watering Practices to Promote Water Conservation

Water Harvesting: Passive Use in the Landscape
Water Harvesting: Active Collection for Later Use

Irrigating Different Areas in a Water Wise Landscape

Efficiently Irrigating Lawns
Dangers of Excess Water on

Larry Rupp

Larry Rupp is a Professor and Landscape Horticulture Extension Specialist in the Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate at Utah State University and co-leader of the Water Conservation for Lawn and Landscape Community of Practice. Larry’s research focuses on the development of woody plants native to the intermountain region for use in water conserving landscapes. 

Dr. Rupp teaches a variety of courses in the Plant Science Department including the Water Conservation Seminar, arboriculture, and plant propagation. He also directs the

Water Conservation in the Home Orchard

Practicing water conservation isn’t just for the ornamental landscaper; commercial as well as home orchards can also be water wise and water efficient.

Ways to Conserve Water in Orchards

  • Perform a distribution uniformity test of your irrigation system
  • A distribution uniformity between 90-100% is considered a uniform system; this ensures that plants are watered evenly and more efficiently
  • This also helps avoid excess water application and runoff
  • Perform regular maintenance
  • Check for line breaks
  • Check for plugged emitters
  • Clean filters

Kelly Kopp

head shot of Kelly Kopp

Kelly Kopp is a co-leader for the Water Conservation for Lawn and Landscape CoP.  She is also an Associate Professor of Plants, Soils and Climate at Utah State University in Logan, UT.  Dr. Kopp’s efforts are focused in two areas: 1) ornamental landscape water conservation and 2) turfgrass water and nutrient use efficiency.

Education and support of extension clientele groups in achieving ornamental landscape water conservation is critical to ensure adequate water supplies for the future while maintaining the quality …

Herbs for the Pollinator Garden: Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare var. hirtum)

 

Plant family

Mint Family (Lamiaceae / Labiaceae)

Common Names

(European) Oregano
Greek oregano
Turkish oregano

Description

Greek oregano is one of many perennial herb species in the genus Oreganum native to the Mediterranean region. It tends to get woody over time.

This mid-summer blooming plant loves full sun, hot temperatures, and well drained dry soil. It grows up to about 24 inches tall and 18″ wide and will survive to USDA planting zone 5.

Good Greek oregano should have …

Plants for Water Wise Pollinator Gardens: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Plant family

Nasturtium (Tropaeolaceae)

Common Names

Nasturtium

Description

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is an annual plant native to higher elevations of Mexico and western South America. A distinctive feature is its long spur where nectar is concentrated.

Plants can be upright or trailing and grow to about 15 to 16 inches high and three or more feet if trailing.

Small to large showy flowers bloom in spring through summer and into fall depending on the climate. Cultivars are available …

Urban Forests Improve Water Quality

Waterways and lakes in and near urban areas can be polluted by soil erosion and water runoff that may contain fertilizers and pesticides from landscapes, oil, and sewage. Trees and vegetation can help reduce water quality problems in communities by decreasing stormwater runoff and soil erosion. Trees also absorb some of the nutrients in the soil that would otherwise be washed away. Communities can have cleaner water by managing existing natural vegetation, planting additional trees, and reducing the use of …

Plants for Water Wise Pollinator Gardens: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

 

Plant Family

Mint Family (Labiatae / Lamiaceae)

Common Names

Rosemary
Rose of Mary
Anthos

Description

Rosemary is a drought tolerant aromatic evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean region. It is also grown as a perennial landscape plant in areas where winter temperatures seldom dip below zero.

Plant as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 9 (some references list Zones 8 through 10).

Rosemary can grow up to 4 to 6 feet tall and wide eventually becoming …

Pruning Sub-Shrubs in the Water-Wise Landscape

What is a Sub-Shrub?

Sub-shrubs are perennial plants whose woody growth originates at the base of the plant. Herbaceous growth occurs from basal buds, or buds at the base of the plant, during the growing season. Many garden herbs fall into this category.

The sub-shrubs described below bloom on new growth. It is important to remove old and dead growth to stimulate new stem formation and flowering.  Unpruned sub-shrubs tend to become leggy and unattractive.

Popular water-wise sub-shrubs include Russian …