Now that the weather has warmed up and the grass is growing greener everyday, homeowners begin to realize that the days of running the sprinklers all too often are just around the corner. Although Springtime does often provide sudden downpours and much needed rain showers, Summertime is lurking and that’s when you know Mother Nature can’t do all the work by herself. But, every year you probably feel that your money is literally going down the drain (or sewer, that is) trying to keep your grass and flowers watered and healthy.

So, we’ve compiled a list of seven ways to conserve water outdoors this Spring.

Get “Smart”
Smart homes, or smart technology is making homeownership easier every single year. Whether you add smart technology to the interior or the exterior of your home, you will soon begin to wonder how you managed without it for so long!  Well, smart technology has gone outdoors and some sprinklers can be programmed depending on the type of terrain, soil and plant life, so you get just the right amount of water in your yard. This keeps your grass from becoming too saturated and helps with eliminating “running the sprinklers when it’s raining” as we sometimes see in a neighborhood.

Target Areas
Drip water systems can target a certain plant or group of plants and can use up to 50% less water than a typical sprinkler. And, it makes it easy to keep from overwatering. They also can be hooked to an irrigation control system so they water occasionally even when you’re not at home.

Under Pressure
Make sure that your sprinkler system has water pressure that isn’t too high. If it is, then a lot of the water coming out may be in the form of a mist that will do little for your lawn and gardens. It’s easy to check and most home improvement retailers have a regulator that can measure this quickly and easily.

Reuse & Recycle
With the growing interest in green building, green homes, and anything organic, why not recycle the rain? Companies are coming out with many types of covered containers that capture the rain and keep it avaiable for use in watering the gardens, flower pots or anything else in the yard that seems parched. Look for one with a faucet attachment to make it easier to use the water you have collected.

Common Sense
Just like the Energy Star label for energy efficient appliances, look for the WaterSense label on products to see if they meet a high level of conservation and help save the homeonwer money.

Growing Like A Weed
If you set your lawnmower blade slightly higher, the grass in your yard tends to use less water. Taller grass has a better root system and typically keeps the soil cooler in the hot, summer months.

Give Me A Break
In addition to lowering your water bill, adding an irrigation system to your yard that conserves water may pass along special tax rebates or credits from your utility company or even your local government. Follow-up with your local water company for more information and start saving today!