7 Simple Ways to Save Water in Your Garden This Summer

As temperatures rise and gardens move into their busiest growing period, efficient water use becomes increasingly important. The goal isn't simply to use less water — it's to make sure the water you do use reaches the plants and lawn where it is actually needed.

A few simple changes to your irrigation system, watering schedule and garden maintenance can significantly reduce unnecessary water loss while keeping your landscape looking healthy.

1. Water at the right time of day

When possible, schedule irrigation for the early morning.

Temperatures are generally cooler and wind conditions are often calmer, which can reduce evaporation and wind drift. Your plants then have access to moisture during the warmer part of the day.

Avoid automatically watering during the hottest part of the afternoon. If your irrigation controller allows multiple start times, consider using these to create shorter watering cycles rather than one long cycle.

2. Check your sprinklers for wasted water

Run each irrigation zone and take a few minutes to watch where the water is going.

Look for sprinklers that are:

• Spraying onto paving or driveways
• Watering walls or fences
• Blocked or partially blocked
• Tilted or sitting too low
• Producing an uneven spray pattern
• Being affected by excessive wind

A sprinkler that is not positioned correctly can waste water every time the system operates.

Replacing a damaged nozzle or adjusting a sprinkler can sometimes improve efficiency without changing the entire irrigation system.

3. Use cycle-and-soak watering on slopes

If your garden has sloping areas or soil that struggles to absorb water quickly, running a sprinkler continuously for a long period can cause runoff.

Instead, divide the watering time into shorter cycles with a break between them.

For example, instead of one 30-minute cycle, you could use three 10-minute cycles with time between each cycle for the water to soak into the soil.

This can help reduce:

• Runoff
• Soil erosion
• Pooling
• Water loss down slopes

It also gives more water an opportunity to reach the root zone.

4. Choose sprinklers with the right application rate

Not all sprinkler nozzles apply water at the same rate.

Rotary stream nozzles such as Hunter MP Rotators apply water more slowly than many conventional spray nozzles. This can give the soil more time to absorb the water and may be particularly useful on slopes or areas prone to runoff.

Correct nozzle selection is important. The radius, arc and flow rate should suit the area being irrigated.

5. Don't water just because the controller says so

An automatic irrigation system is convenient, but a programmed schedule shouldn't be treated as a guarantee that your garden needs water every time the system starts.

Check the garden regularly.

If the soil is still moist and there has been recent rainfall, you may be able to reduce or skip irrigation depending on the plants and conditions.

Likewise, hot, dry or windy weather may increase the garden's water requirements.

A good irrigation schedule should change with the seasons and weather rather than remaining unchanged throughout the year.

6. Use mulch to keep moisture in the soil

Water efficiency isn't only about irrigation equipment.

Mulching around plants can help reduce evaporation from the soil surface while also protecting plant roots from temperature fluctuations.

Organic mulch can also provide additional benefits as it breaks down and contributes organic matter to the soil.

When applying mulch:

• Keep it away from plant stems and tree trunks.
• Maintain an even layer.
• Replenish it when necessary.
• Avoid creating excessively thick layers.

Mulch is particularly useful around flower beds, shrubs and other planted areas.

7. Consider smarter irrigation control

A good controller can make managing irrigation considerably easier.

Rather than relying on a fixed schedule throughout the year, modern controllers can provide greater flexibility over watering days, start times and individual zone run times.

Smart irrigation controllers can go further by using weather information and other data to help adjust watering according to changing conditions.

This can be particularly useful for larger gardens and landscapes where manually changing the programme every time conditions change isn't practical.

Don't forget your irrigation filter

As irrigation use increases, so does the amount of water passing through your system. If your water contains sand, algae or other debris, filters can become dirty more quickly.

A blocked filter can reduce flow and affect sprinkler or drip irrigation performance.

Include these checks in your summer maintenance routine:

• Inspect the filter.
• Clean the filter element when required.
• Check for damaged seals.
• Look for pressure changes.
• Inspect downstream nozzles and emitters.

A quick water-saving checklist

Before the summer watering season gets into full swing, check:

☐ Irrigation runs early in the morning where practical
☐ Sprinklers are correctly aligned
☐ Nozzles are clean and undamaged
☐ No water is spraying onto paving or buildings
☐ Sloping areas use suitable watering cycles
☐ Controller programmes reflect current conditions
☐ Filters are clean
☐ Drip lines and emitters are functioning correctly
☐ Garden beds have suitable mulch
☐ Watering is adjusted after significant rainfall

Small changes can make a big difference

Water-efficient gardening doesn't mean your lawn and flower beds need to look dry or neglected. It means making sure the water you use is applied where it can actually benefit your plants.

By combining appropriate sprinklers and nozzles with sensible scheduling, good soil preparation, mulch and regular system maintenance, you can create a garden that makes better use of every litre of water.

At Turf-Ag, we supply a wide range of irrigation equipment, including sprinklers, nozzles, controllers, filters, valves, pumps, pipe and fittings for irrigation applications across South Africa.