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Irrigating Plants on the Colorado Plateau
Green / Sustainable Irrigation Systems
You can achieve tremendous savings in labor, materials and water using this method. It requires a reevaluation of how we landscape our urban lands and a commitment to landscape restoration with native plants. You can save water by...
- Using site-appropriate native plants
- Planting during seasons when rain is likely or when water needs are lower.
- Supplementing water for plant establishment only when necessary using temporary reusable irrigation systems.
- Implementing a landscape that emphasizes shade trees and ground cover with native grasses and shrubs.
Recommendations. Consult with a native plant specialist to determine what plants are best suited to your location.
- Look for plants that have been grown from locally collected seeds and cuttings.
- Plant trees and shrubs from the onset of monsoon season through the mid fall (early October)
- Plant perennial flowers and grasses from the onset of monsoon season through early fall (mid September.)
- Provide supplemental irrigation manually or through a surface drip line attached to your hose bib. These lines can be removed and reused once plants are established.
- Use automatic surface systems only when necessary and reprogram them for changing seasons.
- Follow our watering guidelines.
Conventional Irrigation Systems
For years, automatic, in-ground irrigation systems delivering water from sprinklers or drip emitters have been the norm. These systems require a great deal of material and labor to install and, unfortunately, have a tendency to waste tremendous amounts of water. Water is wasted when:
- Water loving, non-native, inappropriate plants are chosen for a landscape because it’s so easy to deliver water from the system.
- The systems are not reprogrammed for changing seasons or conditions such as rainy weather.
- The systems are not maintained and repaired. For example, leaking valves or emitters continue to drip even after a plant has died or been removed.
Recommendations. For those who have an existing system or want the convenience such a system:
- Continue to select native, drought-tolerant plants.
- Plug emitters of established native plants, plants that have matured beyond the watered delivery area, or plants that have failed and not been replaced.
- Have the system inspected and repaired annually.
- Turn the system off during rainy periods.
- Follow our programming guidelines.
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