Status: U Return-Path: Received: from mx-emperor.atl.sa.earthlink.net ([127.0.0.1]) by mx-emperor.atl.sa.earthlink.net (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1m2hPR2TG3Nl34l0; Fri, 8 May 2009 00:37:23 -0400 (EDT) Received: from wsmarth-maltese.pas.sa.earthlink.net ([207.217.120.228]) by mx-emperor.atl.sa.earthlink.net (EarthLink SMTP Server) with ESMTP id 1m2hPQ40t3Nl34l0 for ; Fri, 8 May 2009 00:37:22 -0400 (EDT) Received: from domrl-ground.atl.sa.earthlink.net ([207.69.231.199]) by wsmarth-maltese.pas.sa.earthlink.net with smtp (Exim 3.36 #4) id 1M2Hpi-0004hk-00 for merileek@earthlink.net; Thu, 07 May 2009 21:37:14 -0700 X-ELNK-Loop: merileek@kerncommunications.com Received: from dukecmmtar03.coxmail.com ([68.99.120.44]) by domrl-ground.atl.sa.earthlink.net (EarthLink SMTP Server) with ESMTP id 1m2hPz5WC3Nl5vF0 for ; Fri, 8 May 2009 00:37:05 -0400 (EDT) Received: from merilee07cf8a9 ([68.15.13.44]) by dukecmmtar03.coxmail.com (InterMail vM.7.05.02.00 201-2174-114-20060621) with SMTP id <20090508042902.NVUE25412.dukecmmtar03.coxmail.com@merilee07cf8a9>; Fri, 8 May 2009 00:29:02 -0400 Message-ID: Reply-To: "Merilee:::Kern Communications" From: "Merilee:::Kern Communications" To: "'Steve Jacobs'" , "Chris Herman" , Subject: Seattle Post Intelligencer placement Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 21:37:19 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_002B_01C9CF5B.FFC7D670" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.5512 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 X-ELNK-Received-Info: spv=0; X-ELNK-AV: 0 X-ELNK-Info: sbv=0; sbrc=.0; sbf=0b; sbw=010; This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_002B_01C9CF5B.FFC7D670 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable http://www.seattlepi.com/nwgardens/405949_garden06.html Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Last updated 8:20 p.m. PT 5 ways to save water in your garden and landscape By SUSAN MEHALICK ALBANY TIMES UNION Everyone is concerned about saving money these days, which is a good = thing. But another place to think about saving -- or conserving -- at = this time of year is in your garden and landscape.=20 Just think, how many times have you seen sprinkler systems running at = full bore during a rain storm? However, clean, potable water is a = commodity that should not be wasted -- regardless of the economic = climate or geographic location.=20 Of course, by saving water, you'll save on your water bill and/or your = energy bill (depending on whether your water source is public or = private). With that in mind, here are some tips on conserving water from = landscape and horticulture expert Steve Jacobs, president of San = Diego-based Nature Designs (www.naturedesigns.net). 1. Got mulch? Adding a 2 inch layer of groundcover mulch to planter beds = is a good way to conserve water. Doing this will lower the temperature = of the soil and dramatically reduce evaporation. You will also get the = added benefits of weed control, erosion control and adding organic = matter to the soil. 2. Age matters. Those homes with mature plants and trees, which have a = fully developed root system, can be watered less frequently and in some = instances only a few times a year or not at all. So, as your landscaping = ages, your watering schedule should be decreasing in kind. 3. Understand water needs. Know what's planted in your yard, and if your = flowers, plants and trees require high, moderate or low water so that = you can set your irrigation system accordingly. Try to plant items = together in zones with similar watering needs rather than mixing and = matching high and low water use plants in the same area. If your current = landscape requires a lot of water, consider changing the plantings to = native plants. This will allow you to water less often and still have a = beautiful garden. 4.Irrigation control. Overwatering due to poor irrigation system = management is a major culprit of water waste, and offers the largest = potential for conservation. A minimum of each quarter as the seasons = change, homeowners should reprogram their irrigation controller to = optimize water run time and frequency schedule to avoid watering too = much or too little. Ensure your irrigation system is property "zoned" = based on exposure to sunlight, wind and other elements. For example, you = would not want to water sunny and shady zones at the same time, for the = same frequency and length of time, because the water needs greatly = differ in these two areas. Also, be mindful of terrain. To avoid runoff, = have an irrigation system with a low precipitation rate and/or to set = short run times. 5. Log on. There are many online resources to help homeowners conserve. = For example, the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural = Resources Conservation Service offers a "Backyard Conservation Tip = Sheet" located at = http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/watercon.html. ------=_NextPart_000_002B_01C9CF5B.FFC7D670 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
http://w= ww.seattlepi.com/nwgardens/405949_garden06.html
 

Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Last updated 8:20 p.m. = PT

5 ways to save water in your garden and = landscape

By SUSAN MEHALICK
ALBANY TIMES UNION

Everyone is concerned about saving money these days, which is a good = thing.=20 But another place to think about saving -- or conserving -- at this time = of year=20 is in your garden and landscape.

Just think, how many times have you seen sprinkler systems running at = full=20 bore during a rain storm? However, clean, potable water is a commodity = that=20 should not be wasted -- regardless of the economic climate or geographic = location.

Of course, by saving water, you'll save on your water bill and/or = your energy=20 bill (depending on whether your water source is public or private). With = that in=20 mind, here are some tips on conserving water from landscape and = horticulture=20 expert Steve Jacobs, president of San Diego-based Nature Designs (www.naturedesigns.net).

1. Got mulch? Adding a 2 inch layer of groundcover mulch to planter = beds is a=20 good way to conserve water. Doing this will lower the temperature of the = soil=20 and dramatically reduce evaporation. You will also get the added = benefits of=20 weed control, erosion control and adding organic matter to the soil.

2. Age matters. Those homes with mature plants and trees, which have = a fully=20 developed root system, can be watered less frequently and in some = instances only=20 a few times a year or not at all. So, as your landscaping ages, your = watering=20 schedule should be decreasing in kind.

3. Understand water needs. Know what's planted in your yard, and if = your=20 flowers, plants and trees require high, moderate or low water so that = you can=20 set your irrigation system accordingly. Try to plant items together in = zones=20 with similar watering needs rather than mixing and matching high and low = water=20 use plants in the same area. If your current landscape requires a lot of = water,=20 consider changing the plantings to native plants. This will allow you to = water=20 less often and still have a beautiful garden.

4.Irrigation control. Overwatering due to poor irrigation system = management=20 is a major culprit of water waste, and offers the largest potential for=20 conservation. A minimum of each quarter as the seasons change, = homeowners should=20 reprogram their irrigation controller to optimize water run time and = frequency=20 schedule to avoid watering too much or too little. Ensure your = irrigation system=20 is property "zoned" based on exposure to sunlight, wind and other = elements. For=20 example, you would not want to water sunny and shady zones at the same = time, for=20 the same frequency and length of time, because the water needs greatly = differ in=20 these two areas. Also, be mindful of terrain. To avoid runoff, have an=20 irrigation system with a low precipitation rate and/or to set short run=20 times.

5. Log on. There are many online resources to help homeowners = conserve. For=20 example, the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources = Conservation Service offers a "Backyard Conservation Tip Sheet" located = at http://w= ww.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/watercon.html.

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