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A healthy and well cared lawn can be owner's an pride. At the same time, lawns can increase the water usage. Usually, lawns require an inch of water every week. In cities and towns with water restrictions, maintaining a lawn can be difficult but not impossible. Here are several practical ways to keep your lawn green without wasting too much water:

Select the right type of grass: Some grasses require less water and selecting the right type of grass can help the lawns to survive on less water. Buffalo grass tends to survive on very little water. While most grass types require about an inch of water every week, the buffalo grass can survive on two inches of water for about 3-4 weeks. Platinum turf grass and certain other grasses also require less water and survives even in drought conditions. So selecting the right type of grass reduces the water usage for your lawns.

Watering the grass: Many lawn owners think that lawns require water everyday. Instead, water every few days for longer duration. It helps the grass to absorb water faster and better. Do not water the lawns in the morning or noon time as most of the water will be lost due to evaporation. It is better to water the lawns in the evenings between 7pm and 9pm.

Read the signs of water need: You can tell if the lawn requires water by reading the signs. If the lawn has leaf blades folded in half along the length or foot prints that remain or bluish grey spots, then the lawn needs to be watered. Watering the lawn when the first signs of wilt occur can help in the development of deep roots. Long irrigation that is less frequent can help the grass to develop deeper roots. More deep root maximizes the water usage in the lawns.

Type of irrigation:
Drip irrigation: Drip irrigation helps to water the lawn with minimal water loss to evaporation and it waters the lawn only when needed.

Rain barrel: Trap the rain water in the housetop and use it to irrigate your lawn. A rain barrel is easy to construct without spending too much. You are not only using natural water, but you can avoid public water usage and save on your bills.

Much of the water loss in gardens and lawns occur due to not maintaining the irrigation system. Maintaining the irrigation system by fixing leaks, clogs and replacing broken parts regularly can avoid unnecessary water wastage.

Watch the weather: Avoid watering the lawn when it has rained in the past 24 hours. Track the weather forecast and hold on the irrigation process if it would rain in the next day or two. Invest in a rain gauge to monitor the amount of rainfall the lawn is getting. Again, remember to shut the irrigation system off when it rains. Too much water will not only cause loss of water, but it would damage your lawn as well.

Maintain a synthetic grass lawn: There are synthetic no water and no maintenance grass lawns available for residential areas using recycled green products. Such lawns would save water and cost on maintenance. Though synthetic lawns are not natural, it would keep the surroundings green and is highly recommended for drought prone areas.

Learn more about this author, Nisha Danny.
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