The drought isn’t easing up but the struggle to find answers should be. Check out our 2022 Drought Survival Guide for sound advice & decision-making guidance to not only save water, but also save your landscape. Before wells run dry, let’s get the ideas flowing!
You can’t talk about drought without talking about water conservation! Hear from industry leaders and local BrightView experts as they reveal key strategies to conserve water while maintaining a beautiful landscape.
Could you do more with less? When it comes to water management, it’s possible. Follow these 10 tips to lower your usage without feeling the pinch.
Water early in the morning, just before dawn, to reduce evaporation due to sun and wind.
Leaks in your irrigation system or inefficient watering can run up your water bill. Regular inspection by an irrigation professional enables timely repairs and sprinkler head adjustments to avoid waste.
Drip irrigation and soaker hoses are a better choice for planting beds. Save the spray heads for lawns, where it’s a more efficient choice.
Install rain shut-off devices and ground moisture sensors so you’re only watering when absolutely necessary.
By keeping your grass at a slightly longer length, you’ll increase ground shade and water retention in the soil.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
Replace lawns in unused areas with native, drought tolerant plants, xeriscaping, hardscape, or fruit & vegetable gardens.
By adding compost and dressing your beds with a 2–3-inch layer of mulch, you’ll improve water retention, soil health, and reduce weeds.
Instead of water-guzzling seasonal flowers, fill beds with drought-tolerant flowering shrubs instead.
Save money on turf conversions, irrigation upgrades and more with rebates from your local water authority. Your landscape partner can help you explore the latest offerings!
Irrigation can sometimes feel out-of-sight, out-of-mind; after all, the lion’s share of your system is underground. But for our irrigation specialists, water management is something they live and breathe, even in the winter months. They know their jobs are crucial to addressing the Southwest’s persistent drought, a task that requires year-round attention. See how Regional Irrigation Manager James Carr and his teams tackle it head-on.
It’s the first week of the new year, and while most of us are still in a post-holiday lull, James is in California. Given the mild temperatures, few people are thinking about droughts, but for James and our Orange County irrigation technicians and client service teams, it’s very much top of mind. They’re in the midst of a deep dive field training on Preventative Maintenance Irrigation Inspections, fine-tuning how to catch problems before they require costly repairs.
Though it may seem counterintuitive, winter is the best time to improve irrigation systems. No one wants their irrigation system offline for repairs in the heat of summer. That’s why the teams are hitting the ground running. Not long after, James is off to Las Vegas, then San Diego to run the same training with teams there. James calls it “keeping the pedal to the metal.” There’s no off-season in irrigation.
Over the years, irrigation has become higher tech and advancements in water management have created the need for specialists. Yet while the drought problem is universal, the knowledge of how to address it is not. Sharing information is critical.
That brings James to the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association, where he teaches an irrigation training for 50 individuals. They’ve come from landscape companies throughout Arizona.
“All have the goal of raising the bar for our industry and achieving better water management skills,” he said.
James isn’t just leading the class, he’s leading change. He’s a certified board member for the Irrigation Association Certification Board. He also serves as Co-Director of Education and sits on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA). What he’ll teach in his class he’s successfully put into practice himself. In 2021, he accepted an Outstanding Landscape Contractor of the Year award from the ALCA.
With summer approaching, James keeps “the pedal to the metal.” To prepare for spring, he lead a series of intense, 3-day trainings throughout the southwest region with a focus on spring start-ups. Spring start-up refers to the process of de-winterizing an irrigation system. Since irrigation represents a significant investment for many clients, it’s important the system is maintained properly to ensure its longevity. Breaks and leaks aren’t just costly for the client if not caught soon enough, they can also exacerbate drought conditions.
In this section of the training, irrigation specialists are huddled over their phones, studying intently the content on their screens. While it might look like they’ve found something more interesting than their training, they’re actually wrapped-up in researching the ET-- evapotranspiration-- rates for their area. Evapotranspiration refers to how quickly water moves from the earth’s surface into the atmosphere. They use this information to build irrigation schedules for their clients. James, meanwhile, is excited for those clients.
“They’re in good hands!” he said proudly, before enthusing about the magic of smart controllers. “If you don’t understand the magic behind them, you’ll never fully appreciate the efficient tool that they are!” Thanks to James and his team, it’s safe to say a lot more people appreciate that magic. And while they may not actually be magicians who can singlehandedly make drought conditions disappear, they’re doing a lot behind the scenes to make them smaller.
The trees in your landscape are one of your most valuable assets—aesthetically, environmentally and economically. With one 25-year-old Oak valued at about $25,000, it makes sense to take care of your trees. Unfortunately, the continuing drought makes it tough. Inadequate rainfall causes high salt content in the soil, diminished tree root function and a lack of deep root water. As heat increases and water becomes scarce, foliage gets scorched, branches become brittle and trees fall prey to pests and disease. There is something you can do. Follow the tips below and save your trees from drought’s adverse effects.
There are a number of things BrightView can do to maintain the quality of your landscape.
In times of drought, you need to rethink how you irrigate trees. Take these steps:
Temporary Drip Line
Place a temporary drip line around the outer tree perimeter (especially good for larger trees in turf areas or parking lots).
Deep Water Injection
Perform deep water injection with hydraulically-pressurized water at root depth.
Water Bags
Use water bags (AKA Treegator Bags) on smaller trees or newly established trees not in proximity to irrigation systems.
Mulching minimizes evapotranspiration and helps retain water around tree root zones. If you haven’t already done so, mulch your tree wells and remove any water-intensive plants or ground cover from tree root zones. Consider these mulch options:
All trees suffer during drought but some species are especially vulnerable. These species include:
| Sequoia sempervirens Coastal Redwood |
Prunus cerasifera Purple Leaf Plum |
| Salix spp., Geijera parvifolia Willow |
Cupaniopsis anacardioides Carrotwood |
| Alnus sp. Alder |
Gleditsia sp. Locust |
| Populus spp. Poplar |
Ligustrum sp. Privet |
| Betula spp. Birch |
You can use the images in the gallery below as a visual guide to keep an eye out for the 5 stages of decline in your trees. (Good > Top Dieback > Discoloration > Dieback - No Growth > Dead).
Learn More about Smart Water Management
When you conserve water, you’re benefitting your community and the environment at large. If you have further questions on ways to conserve water in your landscape, let us know.
Droughts are challenging but you can count on BrightView to advise you every step of the way. We proactively monitor local city and water agency restrictions ensuring our team is well prepared to assist you.
There are a number of things BrightView can do to maintain the quality of your landscape.
Our water management experts work with you to develop a plan specific to your property that minimizes water use without sacrificing quality.
In the landscaping world, ground covers refer to the typically perennial, low-lying plants that spread and creep across sections of your grounds. They provide visible appeal with minimal maintenance.
Similar to mulch, ground cover plants provide a cost-effective means to cover the soil, creating interest, and finishing the design look of any landscape. These dependable and hardworking plants come in a wide variety of color and texture choices and solve a variety of landscaping challenges.
Improves Soil Quality: Ground cover improves the humus levels in the soil. In its simplest description, humus is a slow-release organic fertilizer for your plants that is found in the soil. The more organic matter in the soil, the richer the humus content and the better chances all the plants will thrive.
Provides Soil Insulation: Ground cover plants offer a layer of protection and insulation. In the hot summer months, the plants help maintain the soil's cool temperature, trapping in moisture levels. This can result in less need for supplemental watering and, in turn, saves you money. During the winter months, they help warm the earth, protecting plant roots from the low temperatures in colder seasons.
Prevents Soil Erosion: Perfect for sloping areas or hillsides, some ground cover plants help protect the soil from eroding. They also protect the landscape from soil erosion during high winds and heavy rains.
Evergreens are by far the most popular type of ground covers and keep their color year-round. They have the ability to turn what could have been a bleak and dead-looking landscape into one that is lush in every season. As a bonus, they require little to no maintenance and grow in a variety of regions, soils, and sun conditions. Ground covers can also help minimize weeds in two ways. First, by covering the soil so that weed seeds have a harder time germinating. Second, once the ground cover matures, weeds are physically suppressed from growing.
As the country’s largest commercial landscape company, BrightView has a vast knowledge of which plants work best in which environments. Discover some of our favorite ground covers and the challenges they overcome below.
Not all plants are suited to grow in all climates and conditions. So how do you know if the plant you fell in love with will flourish in your landscape? Fear not.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has created a climate zone map that divides the country by zone boundaries. These zones correlate to the zone recommendations you will find on plants, shrubs, and trees from the growers.
Wet, shaded areas of your landscape can often drown out the roots of some plants.
If your region doesn't get a lot of rain, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice colorful foliage. Plenty of ground covers can withstand the heat. Commercial landscapers are turning to drought-resistant plantings more often to preserve natural resources and save on costs. Here are a few of BrightView's favorites.
Your commercial landscape team of professionals at BrightView has the experience and knowledge to help you select the right ground cover for your region and property type.
Drought, abnormally dry conditions, water restrictions—the last few years have been hard on the golf industry. Undoubtedly, no matter where your course is located, you and your team are working to conserve water. To help you get ahead, we’ve rounded up our golf course maintenance experts’ top five, tried and true, water conservation solutions
Before you undertake any water conservation efforts, do an audit of your course’s current water situation. Determine water use per acre and make sure your calculations are correct. Map your irrigation system, noting the efficiency and working order of every nozzle and valve. Adjust nozzles and water pressure as necessary, ensure your irrigation system’s programming reflects the changes and plan to address any deficiencies.
According to Ted Horton, BrightView’s Senior Consulting Superintendent, a comprehensive water audit and regularly scheduled maintenance of irrigation systems can reduce annual water usage on a golf course by about 5 to 10 percent.
Though it may seem obvious, it’s important to know the water needs of your plants in order to understand how and where to prioritize water use. Once you know that, you can consider adjusting cultural practices to save water. For instance, studies have shown plant growth regulators can cut down on water use by about 11 percent per year. Using wetting agents or soil penetrants also helps ensure the water you are using will be readily absorbed into root systems.
There are other simple steps you can take to help conservation efforts. Make sure your mower blades are sharp and reduce the height of the cut in the rough. You can also aerate and reduce soil compaction to allow water to infiltrate more efficiently. Consider hand watering instead of turning on irrigation heads and wash equipment with pressurized air rather than water. Don’t skip routine golf course maintenance practices. Aeration, sand topdressing, verticutting and a good fertility management program assist with soil compaction and allow for better moisture penetration, saving water usage in the long-term.
If you’re not already doing so, add soil moisture sensors to your golf course maintenance toolkit. Far more efficient and affordable than in the past, these sensors measure moisture content in turf and enable you to dial in irrigation efforts.
Mike Huck, a water quality and conservation specialist who consults at golf courses nationally, compared good soil moisture sensors to gas gauges. “The information these sensors provide is real time and exact,” he said. “It’s not based on opinion or a guess about the weather.”
Huck told of one Arizona golf client who, following information provided by soil moisture sensors in his turf, turned off irrigation in one zone one night per week. The savings amounted to half a million gallons of water per night.
“His turf didn’t suffer at all,” said Huck. “And over the course of a month, the amount of water and money saved was pretty significant.”
By far one of the most impactful ways to conserve water is through turf reduction and conversion projects. Kevin Neal, BrightView Vice President and Area Director for the West, has seen clubs take several approaches, including installing artificial turf on driving ranges, planting drought tolerant landscaping around bunkers, and converting turf from cool to warm season grasses.
“Just going from something like Rye grass to Bermuda grass can cut water use by as much as 15 percent,” said Neal. However, as Neal points out, planting a warm season grass that goes dormant in the winter requires a mind shift among clubs and players alike.
“People are getting used to not seeing green grass all the time,” said Neal. “But the reasons behind any turf conversion project need to be communicated clearly so that everyone can get behind and support the decision.”
Being smart about water conservation means being aware of all water sources around you. Alternative sources to consider include wells, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. Find out about recycled water opportunities in your area. For example, if sewer lines can be tapped into and skimmed, find out how you can do this and whether you can secure this resource for future use.
“Only 30 percent of golf courses are not using potable water, which means a lot still are,” said Ted Horton. “With water becoming ever scarcer, we all need to look at how we are using this precious resource. It’s up to all of us to use water as carefully and efficiently as possible.”
A native plant is one occurring naturally, in a given geography, without human involvement. These are the plants growing on the landscape without the aid of humans. A drought-tolerant plant, on the other hand, is not necessarily native to the area, but can survive in your landscape with less than normal amounts of rainfall. There are three main reasons to use these two types of plants in your landscape.
Because drought-tolerant plants have adapted to dryer climates and have lower water requirements, they naturally use less water. Although native plants are not necessarily drought tolerant, once established, they usually require minimal supplemental irrigation. Agave plants are a great example of a plant that looks beautiful and requires minimal irrigation. However, you should always research your geography requirements to make sure you are using the right native plants.
Not only can you look forward to using less water with native plants, but because these plants have adapted to their environment, you can also spend less time fertilizing, pruning, and caring for them in general. Most likely, you can maintain a beautiful garden by only spending a little time with them each month. Drought-tolerant plants tend to be more disease-free and pest-resistant so you can spend less time on fertilization.
Drought-tolerant landscapes do not have to mean cactus, succulents, and rocks. Well designed, drought-tolerant landscapes can look attractive all year long. Even when using drought-tolerant and native plants, you can have an abundance of color in your landscape. Colorful plants, such as lantana, verbena, and agastache, will add beauty without requiring a lot of water. Houzz has some great examples of colorful, drought-tolerant landscapes.
Choosing the right plants for the right place is one of the most important considerations for all types of landscaping. Careful planning and completing a thorough evaluation of your landscape is an important first step when designing a new space. Drought-tolerant and native plants can help you avoid a costly landscape which looks unhealthy.
Landscapers are increasingly turning to drought-tolerant landscaping as a way to preserve resources and save costs. With the increasing frequency of wildfires in California, the need to conserve water is even more critical. Here is a list of some top choices for drought-tolerant trees and shrubs for Northern and Southern California for front yard landscaping, public areas, and landscaping for graded/sloped areas.
There are a few basic things to consider when selecting plants for the front yard:
It goes without saying that public space landscapes need to be hardy, but these spaces also need to be an attractive visual endorsement for the commercial or pubic property they surround. Public space landscaping also requires higher maintenance, so keep these things in mind:
Most of the remaining developable land in California is located on hillsides and landscaping such sites takes careful consideration. In addition, much of this land borders natural open spaces, so planting native allows the area to regenerate and flow seamlessly into neighboring areas while also conserving valuable water resources. Think about these basic factors when developing graded landscapes or slopes:
