The city of Carrollton Public Works encourages voluntary water conservation practices to reduce water bills, reduce water consumption, and ensure an adequate water reserve for public health, safety and welfare needs.  Water efficiently by using the three step "Water Wise" method.

1. Recognize that different areas require different amounts of water.

• Plant native and adapted vegetation. Visit Texas Smartscape for recommended plants for North Central Texas.  Once established, which usually takes two years, these plants require less-frequent watering. Grass areas should be watered separately from shrubs, flowerbeds, and other plants. Grasses are best watered with sprinklers that spray large drops of water.
• Trees, shrubs, flowers, and groundcovers can be watered efficiently with low-volume drip, spray, soaker, or bubbler emitters and devices. If water is rationed during a drought, give priority to watering trees and shrubs, which are more expensive and harder to replace than grass and annual plants.

2. Know when and how much water is required to maintain healthy lawns.

• Closely observe the grass. Before watering wait for signs of stress, such as a dull green color, footprints that remain visible after walking on the lawn, or curled blades of grass.
• Determine how much water you are supplying to the lawn.

1. Set 3 to 5 empty cans at different distances from the sprinkler with the last can near the edge of sprinkler coverage.

2. Run the sprinkler for 30 minutes.

3. Add the number of inches of water in all the cans and divide the total by the number of cans to obtain an average.

4. Multiply the average by two to determine how many inches of water are applied in one hour.

• Water during the cool, early morning hours to minimize water loss by evaporation and to discourage disease. Water slowly for better absorption and never water on windy days.
• Set sprinklers so the lawn is watered, not sidewalks and driveways. Use a broom or a rake to "sweep" the sidewalks and driveways.
• Use an overlapping sprinkler pattern to cover the lawn evenly.
• To avoid runoff on sloping areas,

1. Place sprinklers near the top of the slope.

2. Apply water slowly for 5 - 15 minutes

3. Turn off the water for 15 minutes

4. Then turn it back on for 5 - 15 minutes, etc., until the correct amount of water has been applied.

3. Maintain the lawn.

• Mow regularly with a sharp blade so that only ½ to ¾ of an inch of grass is cut off each time. This practice will prevent the grass from turning yellow.
• Control any insects that attack the lawn.
• Fertilize once in spring and again in fall for root stimulation. Too much fertilizer will lead to excessive growth, which will then require more watering. If the grass clippings are left on the lawn, little, if any, additional fertilizer will be needed. Grass with a good root system makes better use of less water and is more drought tolerant.
• Use mulches in flower and shrub beds. Mulches cover and shades soil, minimize evaporation, reduce weed growth, and slow erosion. Mulches can also add a decorative appearance to the landscape.

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