CONSERVE
GARDEN
IN A BOX
Outdoor watering accounts for the largest share of water use during high temperatures. Excessive use outdoors places significant pressure on available water sources and increases the risk of shortages later in the season.
The Garden In A Box Program makes it easy to transform your yard into a beautiful, drought-tolerant landscape, reducing water use for outdoor purposes. Each kit is professionally designed, low-water garden kits made for Colorado yards.
Leaking toilets are the most common cause for unexpected or high water bills and waste around 700 gallons of water a month.
Ute Water, Clifton Water, and the City of Grand Junction have dye tablets for at-home testing for a leaking toilet. Pick one up the next time you're in!
Check for leaks regularly. Even small leaks can waste hundreds to thousands of gallons of water per month.
The most common places for leaks are the toilet, the hoses on washing machines, under the sink, and the water heater.
Know where your Main Shut-off Valve is located in your house. It's often found in the crawlspace or in the garage. In the event of a leak or waterline break, turning off the valve will conserve water and help prevent water damage.
Ute Water, Clifton Water, and the City of Grand Junction have tags to place on your main valve. Pick one up the next time you're in!
Only run washing machines and dishwashers when they are full. The same amount of water is used regardless of the amount of items that are in the load.
You can save up to 20 gallons of water by scraping food off dishes instead of pre-rinsing them.
Filling a basin with a small amount of water and rising dishes by using the same water will help reduce water waste as well.
Drop some ice on the floor? Don't toss it in the sink or the trash! Melted ice cubes make a great water source for plants or even your pet's water dish.
Keep the same glass or cup to drink out of all day. This will reduce the frequency of running the dishwasher and will save water.
If you have some leftover water, use it to water your plants.
Insulating exposed pipes, commonly found under sinks, will not only help prevent breaks in colder temperatures, but it will help water heat up quicker.
SAVING
INDOORS
SAVING
OUTDOORS
Water at dawn! The most ideal time of the day to water outdoors is after 10:00 p.m. and before 6:00 a.m.
Not only are these times ideal for reducing evaporation, but it also helps avoid fungus diseases.
3 inches is all you need!
Give your lawn mower a raise to shade out weeds and reduce evaporation. Skip a mow!
Do you really need to water your lawn? Put it to the test!
If a screwdriver can easily go 6 to 8 inches in your lawn it's sufficiently watered.
It's legal for Colorado residents to collect up to 110 gallons of rain water to use outdoors on gardens, lawns, or landscape.
Making a rain barrel is easy, or you can purchase kits from most home-improvement stores.
Introduce your landscape to the season of growing by following
1-2-3, 3-2-1
April - Water 1x per week
May - Water 2x per week
June - Water 3x per week
July -Water 3x per week
August - Water 2x per week
September - Water 1x per week
Spring is ideal to aerate lawns and apply a thin layer of compost to prepare your lawn for the hot temperatures!
Lawns with 5% organic matter can hold more moisture and need less watering.
Planting trees helps contribute to our environment and reduces evaporation and energy use.
Contact CSU Extension for correct planting procedures for the Grand Valley.
Don't "set it and forget it!"
Adjust your irrigation system monthly to meet the needs of plants based on day length and heat. The peak water need is in July. A Smart Controller can help automatically adjust your system.