Lawns, decks, patios, porches and window sills give us an opportunity to create beautiful, relaxing areas in and throughout our homes. Making thoughtful choices in the beginning lays the groundwork for gardening success and by planning ahead we can reduce wasting of one of our most valuables resources: water.

Go Native
Opt for species indigenous to your region. By taking time upfront to research native species, you’ll actually save time, money and effort in beautifying your home. Planting a perennial that you love, but that cannot survive a hot, dry summer will only bring frustration and disappointment. By choosing plants, shrubs, grasses and trees indigenous to the area, not only will they have a better chance of surviving, they will require less upkeep.  

For a list of the best choices for your neck of the woods visit Mississippi State University Extension Service (http://msucares.com/lawn/lawn/index.html). This web site covers an array of helpful information including what to plant in an herb garden, on a steep slope or for an Antebellum home. A calendar showing when to plant certain varieties eliminates the guesswork.

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Grow Ground Cover
Ground cover adds another layer of interest to your yard and will not require as much maintenance or water. Some to consider are yarrow, thyme, alyssum, sweet woodruff and periwinkle.

Limit Fertilizers
Fertilizers require more water so any way to reduce their usage saves water. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center (www.wildflower.org) offers that “Native plants usually do not require fertilizer. Many thrive in poor soil and applying fertilizer could chemically burn them, or stimulate either lush or spindly, weak foliage growth with few flowers.”

Spread Mulch
Organic mulch, such as bark, leaves and clippings, helps to retain water. Using two to three inches of organic mulch will significantly reduce the amount of water needed. Another plus—mulch inhibits weed growth.

Time to Water
One way to tell if it’s time to water is if you can see your footprints after walking across the lawn. The best time of day to water is early morning. Later in the day when it is warmer and windier, too much moisture is lost to evaporation. Nighttime is not optimal due to a higher likelihood of developing mold.

A little forethought can make a huge difference to your garden and your monthly water bill. Here are some additional suggestions which can take your water savings to a new level.

Six Water-Saving Gadgets

1. Hose nozzles. One of the smartest ways to limit wasted water is to attach a nozzle to your garden hose. Water is turned on, but doesn’t run until you squeeze the handle ensuring that all water used is going where it is needed. And you can rotate the head to different size holes: mist, shower, jet, etc. Click on this link for one that has seven spray options and an ergonomic handle.
2. Soaker Hoses. Use a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler. Soaker hoses deliver water directly onto the ground reducing evaporation and misdirection. Sprinklers aren’t as efficient, allowing precious water to evaporate before it hits the ground, and they tend to splatter water where it isn’t needed, on sidewalks, driveways and streets.
3. Rain Barrels are in vogue. Be the first on your block to have one and capture rainwater to use in your garden. Nothing could be simpler and there are many designs to choose from. Here’s one from www.RiverAction.org.
4. Copper Rain Chains. Also known as Kusari Doi , rain chains are popular in Japanese gardens and provide dual duty. They are useful in collecting rain water and are ornamental.  Over time, they take on a green patina enhancing their appeal. See several designs at http://www.composters.com/water-accessories/copper-rain-chains_165_11.php
5. Aqua Spikes. These attachments fit onto a one- or two-liter soda bottle and direct water straight into the ground to the roots as needed. See what they look like at the Gardening with Kids Store which is on the National Gardening Association’s Web (http://www.kidsgardeningstore.com/13-4114.html)
6. Rain Gauge. To prevent over watering your lawn, a rain gauge can tell you how much water has fallen naturally (or with a sprinkler, but see #2 above!) Most lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in summer and 10 to 14 days in winter. A good rule of thumb is one inch of water per week.