Home > Tip of the Week > Be a Stickler with Your Sprinkler

Tip of the Week

By Solvie Karlstrom | All Posts

Be a Stickler with Your Sprinkler

09:01 am - July 8, 2008

Photo: Be a Stickler with Your Sprinkler

In terms of surface area, lawns are the single largest irrigated crop in America, covering 128,000 square kilometers--three times the surface area the U.S. corn crop covers. All that landscape soaks up a lot of water to keep it looking healthy, and in some areas, keeping your lawn green is not just a luxury, but a requirement. When California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought on June fourth, one couple in Sacramento cut back on watering their lawn, but they subsequently received a $746 fine for letting their grass go brown--and potentially lowering their neighbors' property values. So for many, conservation of both lawn and water are high priorities.

Fortunately, there are ways to minimize water waste when watering the lawn:

  • Set the sprinkler at the setting that gives off large drops of water, low and close to the ground.
  • Take care to position the sprinkler so that all water falls on the lawn (not on the sidewalk or the driveway).
  • Water early in the morning, which will ensure that the water soaks into the soil instead of evaporating.
  • Pick up a Noodlehead Sprinkler, which features flexible nozzles so you can spray the water right where you need to (from $16.95, www.noodleheadsprinkler.com).

© The Green Guide, 2008

Share | Email this post

Discuss this blog


Getting fined for not watering
posted by sandyclaws on 2008-07-24 17:32:56  

What kind of idiotic legal system do we have that allows a person to be fined for not watering their grass after the Governor had declared a statewide drought. The water they are using also belongs to people who don't live in these gated communities. Why should water be wasted on such frivolous things such as grass. When are the people going to tell their lawmakers this has to stop? We are indirectly subsidizing these affluent resource wasters! If the Governor declres a statewide drought people should be fined if they DO water!


Green Gab is for registered users only. If you are not a registered user and would like to join the discussion, register today.

Already registered? Log in here:
Username: Password:
If you have forgotten your password, click here.