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How to Become More Waterwise

Tips, Help & How-To

How to Create a Waterwise Landcape

YOU Can Help Protect Nebraska's Water Resources

You might be thinking you can't make much of an impact as an individual when it comes to conserving and protecting water -- but think again!. One person CAN make a difference, and TOGETHER we can make an even greater impact. 

A waterwise landscaping strategy is one way you can make a big difference in your own yard. What's waterwise landscaping? Quite simply, it's all about making smarter choices about efficiently using water. Watch this short video to learn more! 

Make Waterwise Choices Today

Being waterwise starts with the landscape you already have; the choices we make about how to manage our existing spaces make a difference. Larger changes come with time. A waterwise landscape doesn't necessarily look the same everywhere; there are lots of different ways to make your landscape more waterwise. 

Want to dig deeper? We have a variety of waterwise resources, from quick and easy handouts to longer form magazine issues, to help you learn more.

Start Small for a Big Impact Over Time

Consider how you care for your lawn and gardens and look for ways to make small changes. Usually these changes benefit us as well with less work time and lower costs.

For example:

  • How often and how short are you mowing? Cutting lawn grass too often or too short causes it to require more water.
     
  • Fertilizer encourages growth which requires water; fertilize at strategic times of year when growth can be supported by rain.
     
  • When do you water? Watering early in the morning limits evaporation and gives maximum benefit to the plants and lawn.
     
  • How do you water? Do you rely on an automatic system or do you observe the weather and soil and water when needed? Make sure lawn sprinklers are directed onto lawn and not spilling over onto driveways and sidewalks. In the garden, use soaker hoses and shorter sprinklers to keep water at soil level (avoid evaporation and leaf disease).
     
  • Where are your downspouts directed —into the garden or lawn where water can be utilized by plants or onto pavement where it flows into storm drains?

Watch this video for more information and simple steps to make a more waterwise landscape (of if you want to go deeper, watch our five-part waterwise video series): 

Tackle a Larger Scale Project 

Larger waterwise projects—like converting part or all of your lawn or garden into a more sustainable option—are an investment of time and money, but they can help maximize the benefits of your efforts. Make changes over time in manageable pieces that will eventually add up to a bigger impact.

  • Lawn can be over-seeded with diverse species including clover or converted to species more suitable to your climate like tall fescue or buffalo grass.
     
  • Planting trees adds shade that helps keep your yard cool so less water is needed.
     
  • Convert unused lawn spaces to garden beds that feature native plants or species well-adapted to your environment.
     
  • Add a raingarden designed to capture more runoff from your roof, sidewalk, driveway, or other impermeable surfaces.
     
  • Transition high water use garden plants to native species.

Learn more about lawn alternatives and native plants: 

Community Creates a Community Forest

  • A larger scale waterwise project might include replacing some or all of your traditional turfgrass with native plantings.

  • This bioswale captures runoff from the (gutterless) greenhouse roof and gives it a place to soak into the ground.

  • These native grasses will thrive in the hot, dry median of a four-lane highway. Requiring little irrigation and only twice-a-year maintenance, this saves city employees from frequent mowing in a potentially dangerous area.

  • This church property is set on a slope that drains multiple neighbor blocks. Without adequate storm drains at the bottom of the hill, the road flooded with very little rain. The raingarden now captures enough water to keep the road passable in most rains.

  • Native landscaping provides a welcoming atmosphere to patients and families while requiring minimal maintenance and resources from the small grounds staff.

  • A sedge meadow can work as a waterwise alternative to traditional turfgrass.

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Get Involved

Share the need for waterwise practices with your neighbors and community leaders.

Share Waterwise videos and inspiration with friends and neighbors.
Share these waterwise videos or other inspiration for accessible actions they can take. We also share waterwise tips and information on Facebook and Instagram. 

Tell your community leaders that you care about how the town views water.
Send an email, make a phone call or attend townhall meetings where related topics are being discussed. Be positive and share ideas while letting your community leaders know that you care about water resources.

Volunteer for the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.
We are a small (but mighty!) organization, which means we depend on volunteers to help us get the job done. Our volunteers help with tree planting and garden making all across the state. Email us to let us know you are interested in volunteering, and we'll get in touch with you. 

Support Our Work
The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum is a member-supported organization, which means financial support from members and donors makes it possible for us to plant more trees, make more environmentally sustain able gardens and offer more environmental education and outreach all across the state. 

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