It’s all about the Water

We want to take a minute, during the beginning of this high temperature season, to talk about the importance of water, proper plant care, and also about centering conservation with community mindfulness in all landscaping endeavors. 

Regardless of the Town’s status on water restriction, TM Landscaping always leans towards a more conservative approach to water management. Not only is this approach the most cost effective for our clients and our team, it is also the best approach for our community. Our regional dependency and proximity to the Ipswich River for water, and its consistently low levels over the last decade compared to the number of entities depending on it, makes it essential that we all approach water consumption with a conservation mindset. We know that if we all incorporate a mindfully conservative approach to their water usage, Ipswich River will have enough for everyone, including enough to take care of our beautiful properties. 

If you make landscaping decisions while prioritizing water conservancy, you will make more efficient, cost effective choices that will keep your maintenance costs down. We all know that those costs can add up! For example, planting native species in place of exotic foreign plants will pay off in the long run. Rhododendrons, a New England native, might take a while to get established, but when it does, big rain or drought won’t hit this hardy blooming bush as hard as a plant whose DNA isn’t cut out for a region with such weather extremes.

For this season, here are some tips that can collectively reduce your property’s dependence on summer watering, while continuing to maintain a beautiful landscape. 

Lawn care and gardening tips:

  • Mulch around trees and plants to promote plant growth and reduce weeds.

  • When shopping for new plants and trees, choose native species. 

  • Keep your grass 3 inches tall. Taller grass has deeper, healthier roots. Watering deeply and less often is generally best, to moisten the whole root zone.

  • Water during the coolest part of the day. Early morning is better than dusk since it helps to prevent fungus, and allows water to seep through the thatch later before evaporation occurs during the day.

  • Avoid lawn watering on windy days.

  • Water plants, not pavement.

  • Mow your lawn with a sharp blade. Mower blades should be sharpened after every 10 hours of use.

  • In June and July, lawns need about 1 inch of water per week, spread over 2 or 3 waterings, to stay green. They need only ½ to ¾ inch per week for the rest of the summer. If there has been an inch of rainfall during the week, you do not need to water at all.

  • Overwatering can actually weaken your lawn by promoting shallow roots that are less tolerant to drought and more likely to be damaged by insects.

  • Utilize rain barrels to reuse water on a sunny day.

  • Do the Walk Test to determine when your lawn needs water: The Walk Test: Does your grass stand up straight after being walked on? If not, your lawn is thirsty. Walk across your lawn and back. If you can still see your footprints after a few minutes, your grass needs water.

  • Maintain irrigation systems to prevent leaks and waste. Learn how to find and fix leaks on U.S. EPA’s website at  https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week .

Water use facts:

  • Turning off the tap while brushing teeth can save 8 gallons of water per day.

  • Letting the faucet run for 5 minutes while washing dishes wastes 10 gallons of water.

  • Running the dishwasher only when it’s full can save the average family 320 gallons of water annually.  

Greenscapes Community

Hamilton and Wenham are Greenscapes communities. The Greenscapes North Shore Coalition is a collaborative of municipalities and partner organizations, focusing on stormwater and watershed related issues. Specifically, Greenscapes provides outreach and education to support municipal compliance with water-related regulatory requirements, including the MS4 Stormwater and the Water Management Act permits. Since its founding in 2007, Greenscapes partners have delivered outreach and education services across the North Shore. 

For more cost-effective ways to conserve water usage, please visit the Greenscapes website where you can find valuable information on landscaping and lawn care practices to help promote water conservation and the protection of our natural resources.

EPA WaterSense Partner

The U.S. EPA’s WaterSense Program promotes indoor and outdoor water efficiency, conserving water resources, and promotes WaterSense certified products. For more information, visit the EPA's WaterSense website.

natalie bowers