Manual watering delivers water directly to the plants, eliminating waste. OSU extension

Due to outdoor use, water consumption in the Portland area usually doubles or triples in summer. How much of this is wasted through evaporation, runoff, overspraying, and overwatering? According to data from the Regional Water Supplier Alliance, up to 50% of the water is used for lawns.

No one wants to waste water or generate runoff that affects rivers and streams.

According to data from the United States Drought Monitoring Agency, Oregon has gone from an unusually dry spring to summer, and more than 90% of the state is considered to be in a "severe drought" state, so water saving has become more urgent than ever.

How to help your plants weather the heatwave in Oregon

People and plants need care to survive the coming heat wave without wilting.

There are some simple ways to reduce the amount of water used by Goldilocks Fashion-not too much and not too often-while keeping your landscape healthy and beautiful.

Whether you use a garden hose or a complex irrigation system, adjust the amount of watering according to the soil moisture lost when the local weather changes from heavy rain to heat waves or strong winds.

Sound complicated? It is not.

Register on regionh2o.org to get a free, personalized weekly watering number from the regional water supplier alliance. A text message or email will let you know how much to water the plants.

Most mature lawns require only about an inch of water per week, more water during the peak summer period, and less water in the spring and fall. (Learn how to measure the time it takes for a sprinkler to water an inch.)

Shrubs and perennials need about half the amount of water that lawns, and vegetables need about 75% of the amount of water per week.

Fire smart landscape does not have to look like a desert

The following are tips for solving the tug-of-war between saving water and keeping the landscape green as a fire prevention measure.

The Regional Water Suppliers Alliance, Oregon State University Extension Services Gardeners and other experts provide the following effective watering techniques:

It is best to grow drought-tolerant plants in the garden that do not require any irrigation. These include native plants and those that thrive in other semi-Mediterranean regions during summer dry periods.

Many drought-tolerant plants are also fire-resistant.

Amy Jo Detweiler, a horticulturist at Oregon State University's Extension Services Department, recommends that before starting or changing the garden, pay attention to the sun and shade throughout the day, check the soil drainage throughout the yard, and determine whether the area is wet or particularly dry. In wet areas, plan a possible rain garden or biological swamp.

Don't exclude the hardscape from the equation. Reduce wasted runoff water by using permeable materials, leaving space between the stone slabs of the passage or terrace. Sidewalks, fountains, stone walls, and boulders are all fuel interruptions.

Decorate garden paths or terraces with gravel or paving stones

Which material is best for creating an outdoor living space in your backyard?

More information can be obtained from the OSU Extension Services publication "Grow Your Own", a practical guide for novice gardeners.

Other OSU extended publications that contribute to low-water gardening include water conservation in the garden and infographics on the key to water-saving landscapes, water use wisely, and landscape maintenance to save water.

Manual watering allows you to aim at the soil under the plant and water it between predetermined times. Add a hose nozzle so you can control the flow of water. (Need a new hose nozzle? This is the best seller from Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Amazon.)

Soak an area around the root ball and under the drip line of the tree.

Spray the plants after watering in the morning to moisturize the surface of the leaves.

Collect bath or sink water while waiting for it to heat up for use in the garden. (Read Oregon's grey water requirements.)

Choose a sprinkler or irrigation system to bring large drops of water close to the ground instead of spraying fine mist that will be lost due to evaporation.

If you use swinging sprinklers, raise them above the tallest plants so that the water flow will not be blocked and their patterns will overlap. Runoff indicates that you need to water at a slower rate. (Need a new swing nozzle? This is the best-selling nozzle from Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Amazon.)

Separate the sprinklers to maximize coverage and adjust as the plants grow.

Pop-up sprinklers are generally not as effective as rotor heads or drip irrigation systems because they spray water on the ground faster than clay can absorb it.

Drip irrigation uses less water than overhead spraying equipment, and ground pipes transport water directly to the bottom of plants at a speed that the soil can absorb.

The drip irrigation wetting patterns of sand and clay are different. In sandy soil, water will infiltrate directly, wetting a narrow vertical soil zone. In clay, water spreads more laterally. Therefore, for clay, drip irrigation can be placed farther than sand.

For more research-based information on drip irrigation, see Drip Irrigation: Introduction.

The suction hose can drain water out, and can be connected to a solid hose to deliver water to dense plants or individual plants. (Need a new suction hose? This is the best-selling hose from Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Amazon.)

When the soil is sufficiently moist, the soil moisture sensor prevents the irrigation system from starting.

When the rainfall reaches a preset amount (usually 1/4 inch), the rainfall sensor will automatically turn off the sprinkler or irrigation system. (Need a new rain sensor? This is the best-selling sensor from Home Depot, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.)

The manual hose bib timer will turn off the spray head after the set time.

Use rain barrels or underground reservoirs to collect rainwater for use in the garden during dry periods. Read OSU Extension’s publication Harvesting Rainwater for Use in the Garden. (Need a new rain barrel? This is the best-selling rain barrel from Home Depot, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.)

— Compiled by Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

Note to readers: If you purchase goods through one of our affiliate links, we may earn commissions.

Registering on this website or using this website signifies acceptance of our user agreement, privacy policy, and cookie statement, and your California privacy rights (the user agreement was updated on January 1, 21. The privacy policy and cookie statement was in May 2021 Update on the 1st).

© 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (about us). The materials on this website may not be copied, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used without Advance Local's prior written permission.

Community rules apply to all content that you upload or otherwise submit to this website.