The average Canadian uses 326 litres of water per day. The average Kamloops resident uses about 800-850 litres of water per day. In the summer that number rises to 1800 litres of water per person, per day! Eighty percent of the water consumed in the summer is used outdoors to water grass, hose driveways and wash vehicles. Lawn Care Tips: Proper lawn care can help reduce water usage and save you money. Mowing high – leaving grass about 5 – 7.5 cm tall – shades the roots and helps prevent evaporation. Leaving your grass clippings on the lawn, known as grasscycling, can help reduce watering and fertilizing. Lastly, water deeply, but infrequently. Your lawn only needs about 2.5cm of water per week to stay green, but try watering only 1 – 2 times a week. It encourages deep rooting and drought tolerance. Xeriscape: By xeriscaping our individual landscapes, we use water more responsibly. Even if you are not ready to do a complete make-over, becoming more knowledgeable and aware of your existing landscape is a start. Here are two simple steps that will make a difference: alter your irrigation to match your plants actual water requirements, and make adjustments to minimize overspray onto hard surfaces. For information on the seven xeriscaping principles pick up a brochure from City Hall. Get some xeriscaping ideas by visiting the demonstration garden at McArthur Island, or the one at the booster station in Westsyde at 790 Harrington Road.
dog spots, attracts beneficial insects and is inexpensive. Why not try an experimental clover lawn in a small area and see how much time, money, and water you save? Starting a Clover Lawn Springtime is best for seeding; however, it can also be seeded in fall. There are two starting points – bare ground and existing lawn. To mix clover in with an existing lawn: 1. To allow clover seed to reach the soil surface, grass should be cut short and bagged. 2. Rake up extra debris and clippings. 3. Seeding recommendations are 60 – 245 grams per 100 m2. For clover to be dominant use 245 g per 100 m2 (8 oz per 1,000 ft2). 454 grams of seed contain about 800,000 seeds. 4. Since the seed is so small and difficult to sow evenly, it is suggested that it be mixed with soil, sawdust, or graded sand (grain size approx. 1 mm) for distribution in a broadcast spreader. Do NOT cover seed with a layer more than 0.6cm (¼”) deep. 5. If there is no clover present in the lawn or nearby – you may need to add a bacterial inoculant to promote the best growth. It can be mixed with the seed. 6. Water daily for about 10 days. At temperatures above 15 degrees C, most seed will germinate in less than a week. 7. Until established mow regularly at 3.75 – 5 cm (1.5 – 2”), then return to higher mowing height.
For maintenance tips and other Consider Clover: Traditional lawns can be information on clover pick up the brochure costly and time-consuming to maintain. Clover - Friend or Foe? from City Hall or visit White clover can be a great alternative. It www.kamloops.ca/ipm. stays greener with less water, is immune to 2 ~ HOW TO GUIDE | KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK
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