Conserve Water Outside Your Home

Save water outdoors in gardens, landscaping, and recreational activities

Outside your home in the spring, summer and fall months, landscaping and sprinklers are major water users. To conserve water in these areas, consider:

When landscaping:

Water only when needed; in NJ, most landscapes need only 1 inch of water a week. This often comes from rainfall and dew.
Water flowers and landscaping with water harvested in a rain barrel connected to a downspout.
Use 30-50% less water with drip irrigation and micro-sprays compared to sprinklers.
Get an audit done on your irrigation system by someone who is a WaterSense partner.

In the Garden:

Use native plants that need less water.
Group plants together based on water needs.
Choose drought-tolerant grass varieties, such as fine-leaf fescues.
Mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and weeds.
Replace lawns with native plant beds, which require less water.
Water plants early morning or evening to reduce evaporation.
Water the root zone of plants instead of the foliage.
Water deeply and less frequently for a deeper, healthier root system.
Add organic matter to the soil to improve water and nutrient-holding.
Use water from dehumidifiers and/or air conditioners to water plants.

For more tips on conservation, visit NJAES: Water Conservation (Rutgers NJAES)

Outdoor Household Chores:

Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
Raise your lawnmower blade to at least 3 inches to promote deeper grass roots which hold water better.
Don’t over fertilize lawns, which causes them to need more water to survive.
Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps, rather than using a hose.

Outdoor Recreation:

Avoid recreational toys that require a constant stream of water.
If you have a pool, purchase a water-saving filter.
Cover your pool when not in use, to reduce evaporation rates.

Outdoor Water Saving Downloads:

Questions or comments?
Contact us