If you have a garden or landscaping feature or just want a lush, green lawn, you need proper irrigation. Systems of underground sprinklers with timers and buried spouts can be very expensive, but typically homeowners may be overlooking ways of saving on the cost of irrigating their property. A few changes to the irrigation system and the landscaping itself can cut down on the cost of water and also ensure that the irrigation works as it should, to provide water where it's needed and to avoid overwatering other areas. Note a few simple tips for cutting the costs of irrigation on your private property.

1. Choose low-water landscaping features

Vegetables and grass varieties such as bluegrass turf usually need the most water to grow and flourish. These types of vegetation usually have very short roots, so they need more water supplied to them from above in order to grow. 

As a way to save on your irrigation costs, plant landscaping bushes and trees with deep roots that can find their own water underground. Note that the larger the shrubbery or plant, the longer its roots, so the less watering it may need from your irrigation system. Use these generously around your property rather than having a plain bluegrass lawn or planting delicate flowers that need regular watering.

2. Evaluate wet spots and adjust sprinkler heads accordingly

If your sprinkler heads are watering the sidewalk or large trees on your property, they're wasting water. If parts of your lawn are overly wet and hold moisture consistently, this too can mean that you need to readjust your sprinklers. It can be good to put more distance between sprinkler heads so they're not all watering in the same spot, or your ground may be moist in certain areas because of runoff and doesn't need irrigation from your sprinklers. Examine wet spots on your lawn every week or at least every month and adjust the coverage area of your sprinklers so you're not wasting water.

3. Know when to water

If you water your lawn or garden area in the middle of the day, the hot sun can cause the water to evaporate very quickly and, in turn, little of it gets to the soil. The water can also magnify the sun's rays so that plants and grass actually get burnt. Run your home's irrigation system in the evening so that the soil can absorb the moisture and keep your plants and lawn watered without being affected by the day's sunlight.

For the best results, work with an experienced irrigation company like Total Water Services to set up your system.