Water Restrictions... Don't Panic!

By Lyn Hayes, Forsyth County Master Gardener

TownLoafer Magazine, July 2007

Landscapes can handle drought better than you may think.

As the summer heat continues to creep up and our lawns begin to crunch beneath our feet, a person begins to wonder if there is an end to the ever increasing concern over Georgia water. Although we have had a lot of rain lately, we are seriously lacking in rain fall for the year and the counties still require residents to conserve.

You should be aware of the days and times you are allowed to water and stick to those times. Abuse can lead to fines and in some case, service terminated completely. You should call your county water department or visit their web site to keep current with water restrictions.

Now that you are aware of the rules regarding your watering limitations, there is no need to panic. Your landscape can survive! Grass tends to brown up a bit with a lack of water, but can bounce back. In times like these, it is sometimes best to turn to the experts for advice. I talked to Cla Allgood, owner of Allgood Outdoors and Wakoola Water Gardens, to help shed some light on this otherwise dismal picture. Allgood is a native of Georgia and a graduate of UGA. He has been in the landscape profession for over 30 years.

“The panic can be worse than the problem. The news media is telling us every night about watering restrictions and how very serious this drought situation is. This causes many people to push the panic button,” Allgood commented. He added, “Before 1960, there were no irrigation systems in Georgia landscapes. Just look at the lily patches and wildflowers along many of our highways and interstates; these plants are abandoned and yet survive.”

Keep this in mind when selecting plant material for your landscape. Some of the “exotic” plants may expire because they require more water as opposed to native plants, which are proven strong for our climate. “A landscape has many seasons, and just like the lush blooming season of spring and the colorful season of fall, we should be more tolerant of a hot summer look to our landscape,” said Allgood.

The property which houses Allgood Outdoors and Wakoola Water Gardens includes a beautiful 3 acre garden surrounded by ponds and lush greenery with no irrigation. Staff members water the annual and perennial beds by hand, but the grass areas are on their own. “A person at the end of a hose is best,” says Allgood. Water waste occurs when a sprinkler or hose is left unattended, allowing over watering to occur or even spraying into the street. Plants will push their root systems deep to find water and will stand a better chance of survival when a drought situation occurs. Allgood indicated that the evergreens are most at risk; however, as they do not have the ability to go dormant or drop their leaves for survival. By focusing our efforts towards these plants, they are less at risk.

“Of course we are all concerned over the lack of rainfall,” Allgood said, “but with conservation and wise watering, our landscapes will survive.” Allgood is reminded of the following quote by an unnamed author: “In times of dry they never remember the rain; in times of rain they never remember the dry.” Allgood states, “That’s the way it has always been and will always be.”

Conservation Watering Tips

· Water deeply
· Have a professional install an irrigation system to avoid waste and maintain tough watering restrictions
· Install a drip watering system for beds and borders
· Use water bags on trees
· Be water wise in your plant selection
· Mulch to help soil retain moisture
· Mow grass higher to push roots deeper
· Place a bucket under your air conditioner condensation line for water collection
· Attach a rain barrel to a gutter downspout

I recently purchased a rain barrel which is connected to a gutter downspout at my house. It holds 55 gallons of water and was overflowing in 10 minutes with one of our recent pop-up storms. It is amazing how much water can come off your roof! These barrels can be found on most gardening web sites, but pay close attention to the type of hose fitting. A strong brass hose connection is preferred rather than a plastic connector.

Be water wise, not wasteful, conserve, recycle, and have a cool summer!