A healthy, well established lawn is better conditioned to endure periods of drought and the deep root system can support the lawn with less water when it becomes scarce.

For homeowners ready to tackle a bigger project, consider adding a new shade tree to the landscape. Trees do best when planted in the fall and many offer great color contrast to fading greenery and spent flower beds. Wise placement of new shade trees can significantly reduce the temperature of  the home in summer and provide cooling for air conditioning units, saving both energy and money. Most shade trees are deciduous so when they drop their leaves in winter the sun can warm the home too.

Recommended shade trees for North Carolina would include: Red Maple, Sugar Maple, Pecan, Birch, White Ash, Ginkgo, Honeylocust, Sweetgum, Tulip Poplar, Blackgum, Sycamore, White Oak, Red Oak, Willow Oak, Water Oak, Bald Cypress, Linden, Zelkova, River Birch, and Hickory.



10 WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER  (A printable PDF version)

In the Kitchen
1. Only run the dishwasher when it's full and necessary. Use the 'short' cycle if your machine has that option.
2. Take a break from dishes on the weekend - use paper products instead.
3. Don't use the garbage disposal; toss scraps in the garbage bin instead.
4. Rinse produce with a bowl of water rather than running the faucet. Use leftover water for plants.

In the Bathroom
5. Put timers in your family bathrooms to encourage shorter showers. Reducing your time in the shower by one minute will save hundreds of gallons per household each month.
6. Replace older shower heads with new low-flow models.
7. Only flush the toilet when necessary.
8. Place a bucket in the shower to collect water while it heats up. Use the water on plants or to flush the toilet.
9. Running water faucets use 2-3 gallons per minute. Men should consider using an electric shaver or turning off the water while they shave.
10. Put some food dye in the back of the toilet tank. If the dye appears in the toilet bowl within 15 minutes, your toilet is leaking and should be fixed.

Additional Tips - Indoor Watering Tips        Outdoor Watering Tips

BE A WATER STAR AND WIN! WaterSmart Award Application (PDF). We all know saving water is a great thing to do for the environment. But now it's good for bragging rights, too. Because every drop you save could make you a winner.  Share your innovative water-saving techniques with us and you may be rewarded with a gift package.