- 1). Plan your landscape around water conservation and with an eye toward making watering by hand convenient and effective. If your property has a severe slope, consider cutting in terraces or planting ground covers that will prevent erosion and slow runoff. Using rain barrels or making the most of downspouts can reduce your reliance on household water. Use wood chips for beds rather than rock, which can raise temperatures and increase evaporation.
- 2). Get your soil tested, both for pH and for soil type (sandy to clay) so that you can select the plants most likely to thrive in your landscape without an artificial irrigation system. You should also try to include as many local plants as possible, as these plants are suited to the natural levels of rainfall in your area. Limit grass to small areas, as grass requires a great deal of water and maintenance.
- 3). Maintain your landscape with proper hand watering and mulching techniques. By grouping plants with similar water needs together, you will maximize the effectiveness of your hand watering. Adding at least 3 inches of mulch to your planting beds will slow water evaporation.
- 4). To reduce its need for water, mow your lawn to its proper height and no shorter. Depending on the type of grass you've planted, the ideal height is between 1 and 3 inches. Monitor your grass and water it by hand only when you notice the blades beginning to wilt. If you are unsure what type of grass you have, take a sample in to your local county extension office.
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