WATCH THAT WATER

Here we are getting ready for another summer of trying to have a lush lawn and garden while keeping our water bills manageable. And cost isn't the only concern. Dr. Gene Taylor from Texas A&M shared some thought-provoking statistics on water at a turf-care conference earlier this year.

• By the year 2035, Texas will have available only about 85 percent of the water it will require.
• About 35 percent of the water we now use in the summer goes to landscape.
• The population of Texas is projected to double in the next 50 years.

All of the above reinforce our need to conserve water. And there are more short-term benefits to being frugal with water, too.

• Lower water bills.
• Decreased incidence of turf disease.
• Deeper roots, which help turf better withstand drought stress.
• Overall better turf quality; more problems are caused by over-watering than under-watering.

Over-watering is a common problem that can easily be remedied to the benefit of your lawn and checkbook. Here are some water conservation tips.

• Check your sprinkler system frequently for damaged heads, or heads that are watering the street, sidewalk, etc.
• Evaluate performance by knowing how long it takes your system to provide one inch of water to the grass.
• Irrigate based on the weather rather than by automatic timer. Don't water if it has rained enough to give the grass one inch of water in the last week.

Cynthia Branch Mills, Smith County Master Gardener

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