By Leann Sato, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
Three times the use – residents use three times more water in summer than winter, and it goes to outdoor watering. Instead, use what nature provides by directing downspouts to plant beds, storing runoff in rain barrels or cisterns for later use, and landscaping with native and regional plants. Rein in water use by maintaining irrigation systems, employing moisture sensors, and watering early in the morning. Summer yards don’t have to use three times the amount of water with water-wise landscapes and irrigation.Â