
In order to keep your Austin lawn and garden happy and healthy in the summer months, you will likely have to water regularly. Landscaping companies in Austin, Texas will often recommend sprinkler system installation (you can learn more at http://www.greenbrothersaustin.com). Unfortunately, on average, up to 30% of a property’s water usage is attributed to the yard and garden, each year. That can mean expelling up to two hundred gallons per day on your lawn. That might not mean much, but consider the fact that two hundred gallons is enough to fill the average tub to the brim four times and that is only what is used in a single day. You’d fill that same tub one hundred-twenty times in a single month with the amount needed to keep the landscape happy.
Very few people want to be irresponsible with water usage, but they also want a nice looking landscaping. Many homeowners pay a great deal for landscaping companies to build very attractive and unique gardens. The last thing that they would want to do is deprive the plants of the needed water. For that reason, landscapers recommend that one look into drip irrigation and xeriscaping.
What is drip irrigation? In order to understand the concept of these new sprinkler systems, you can take your average garden hose, add a few hundred holes along its length, plug the end, and you’ve got the basic design for drip irrigation. That isn’t exactly how these systems are designed, but it gives you the general idea. The hoses are generally hidden beneath mulch, holes or small spouts are arranged to best water the existing foliage. There are some systems that come with pre-punched, uniform spouts. Others must be set-up by the end user, which allows for customization. The landscaping company can be sure that the system is dripping water only where necessary and can create bigger holes where more water is needed.
What is xeriscaping? In many areas of Texas, including Austin, the land is susceptible to drought conditions. This method of planting allows for that, using plants that require very little moisture. Xeriscaping can be as simple as making more careful choices for garden additions or as complex as replacing existing grass with hardier varieties. In some cases, grass is set aside completely and replaced with a stone or mulch ground cover.
Is this all necessary? Austin doesn’t get the rain that other areas of the nation see. Hawaii, for instance, receives nearly sixty-five inches of rain each year; Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi are very close behind, getting about sixty inches annually. This compares to Texas’ meager twenty-nine inches. Though it is not the last on the list of the states based on annual rain fall statistics, it certainly isn’t anywhere near the top either. Drought is likely each and every summer, which means proper planning can keep your yard looking wonderful while others see crispy, brown foliage. Plus, it will save you a lot of money in the long term, as you won’t be required to use nearly as much water to keep your yard looking good.
Green Brothers Sustainable Solutions, LLC
5350 Burnet Rd #427
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 761-7571
Time to cool down | Flickr – Photo Sharing! : taken from – http://www.flickr.com/photos/seadave/3194484189/Author: SeaDave http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en









