Extension Programming Guide for Landscape Irrigation

CONTENTS

1. Issues and Overview
2. Educational Objectives
3. Audiences
4. Recommended Practices
5. Subject Matter Topics
6. Program Delivery Strategies
7. Accountability Indicators
8. Program Evacuation Methods
9. Potential Partners
10. Online Resources and Publications

Issues and Overview

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Residential water use now ranges from 60 to 140 gallons per person per day.  Between 35 and 50 percent of this is used outdoors.   Municipal water use in Texas is increasing with the growing population and rising per-capita use.  Aquifers used for irrigation and municipal water supplies are being depleted in many areas.

Improved water management practices must include individual conservation measures, adoption of more efficient water use technology in the home and landscape, and the development of alternative water supplies. Water use in homes and landscapes can be reduced..

Problems to be Addressed

Per capita use of water in Texas is rising although the available supply is declining, causing water shortages to become more common.

Greater technical and public understanding of water quality requirements for home landscape use in rural and urban areas is needed.

Water demands and energy costs are increasing while the supply is decreasing, so that efficient pumping installations, efficient application systems and precise water management practices are essential.

The lack of public education in water quality, landscape and domestic water requirements and a lack of responsible use of private and alternate sources of water is causing water shortages and associated problems.

Educational Objectives

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1. Water use in urban landscapes, which utilizes nearly 40 percent of residential water consumption, should and can be reduced.
2. Homeowners and the landscape industry will adopt irrigation management practices to conserve water by irrigating on demand rather than on a schedule.
3. Landscape and turf industry representatives will be provided with design, planning an management guidelines to improve irrigation equipment and distribution systems to reduce water use, energy requirements, and pumping costs.
4. Homeowners will reduce water use for maintenance of Texas home landscapes through proper landscape design, plant selection, care, and efficient water application.

Audiences

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1. Homeowners
2. Landscape personnel
3. City and government officials
4. City water department personnel
5. Water agency personnel
6. Public grounds maintenance staff
7. Schools

Recommended Practices

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1. Increase irrigation efficiency by incorporating current technology and through proper irrigation management practices.
2. Use plants and lawn grasses adapted to the existing landscape environment, including rainfall, soil type and temperature.
3. Use soil analysis and improvement to enhance landscape water use efficiency.
4. Use mulches to reduce water loss from evaporation and improve landscape water use efficiency.
5. Minimize the use of fertilizer and pesticides in the landscape.
6. Minimize runoff, deep percolation and evaporation by effectively timing and monitoring irrigation applications.
7. Have water analyzed before investing in landscape irrigation equipment
8. Capture rainwater for later use.
9. Use natural ground orientation to determine vegetation and watering methods.
10. Use water management strategies to prevent over-watering.

Subject Matter Topics

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1. Proper water and soil sampling techniques.
2. Improved irrigation technologies, including low volume 9drip) and conventional systems.
3. Proper irrigation management, including auditing the irrigation system, irrigation scheduling and maintenance of irrigation systems.
4. Proper plant and lawn grass selection which matches up with the natural landscape environment.
5. Proper maintenance of lawns for water use efficiency.
6. Soil improvement and mulching.
7. Proper fertilizer and pesticide use.
8. Appropriate landscape maintenance practices to increase landscape water use efficiency.
9. Seasonalize landscape to match natural rainfall.
10. Reuse drainage water for landscape watering.
11. Use soil moisture measurements to time irrigation rather than a set schedule.

Program Delivery Strategies

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1. County and regional conferences
2. Result demonstration landscapes
3. Workshops and short courses on specialized topics
4. Educational promotion of selected plants and technologies
5. Videotape trainings
6. Publications
7. News releases and articles for newspapers, newsletters, magazines, radio and television.
8. Newsletters to city officials and departments

Accountability Indicators

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1. Reduction in residential water use, especially during summer months, according to city water bills.
2. Increase in the purchase of selected plants and technologies which have been educationally promoted.
3. Reduced occurrence of improper irrigation practices (e.g. daytime watering, runoff, irrigation during rain).
4. Increased use of mulches and soil amendments.
5. Increase in soil and water samples received for analysis.

Program Evaluation Methods

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1. Questionnaire evaluation of employment of recommended practices by clientele.
2. Evaluation of water bills of selected clientele.
3. Evaluation of purchasing patterns by clientele.
4. Visual evaluation of irrigation habits (e.g. daytime watering, runoff).

Potential Partners

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1. External

   • Texas Water Development Board
   • River Authorities (e.g. Lower Colorado River Authority
   • Groundwater Districts (e.g. Edwards Underground Water District)
   • Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs)
   • Chambers of Commerce
   • Landscape Industry Associations (e.g. landscape contractors/architects, nurserymen, irrigators)
   • Homeowner and Condominium Associations
   • Property and Grounds Managers Associations
   • Private Consultants

2. Extension Resource Persons

   • Landscape Horticulturists
   • Turfgrass Specialists
   • Irrigation Engineers

Online Resources and Publications

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