Landscape Architect Anna Sullivan makes sustainability easy to understand

After our uncharacteristic winter of ice and snow, all the melted snowmen and ice angels have not been enough to replenish our water supply. Therefore, we have to ask the question, “What can we do to preserve our renewable resources and replenish our water supply?”
At Lambert’s, we are striving to look to the future to be proactive rather than reactive to the waning water supply. Have you ever thought about a cistern to help supplement those rising city water bills? Whether small or large, the water from your roof, gutters, and hardscape can be captured and stored for future use. Although cisterns can be an upfront cost, studies have shown a return on investment in water savings can be achieved in as few as 7 to 8 years.
Another sustainable contribution is to rethink your garden design. Do you have high maintenance plants consuming large amounts of water? A low-water garden is not just composed of cactus and gravel. There are many native, low-water plant options including beautiful flowering perennials, evergreen shrubs, and ornamental trees that can enhance your home. When designed correctly, a cohesive planting plan does not have to look messy or wild. Typically, native plants need just a year of irrigation to become established, and they have a better success rate with the current 2-times-a-week water restrictions the City of Dallas has imposed.
Finally, another easy fix to make your garden more sustainable is to utilize the proper irrigation control system. We encourage our clients to use smart weather-based irrigation controllers. The Weathermatic Smartlink system acts as a smart thermostat for your garden. The web-based controller can be remotely managed through a smart phone or computer and can shut your system down in an emergency or prevent watering before rain or during a freeze. Also, the controller, through its soak and cycle feature, can prevent standing water and runoff which deter dangerous mosquitos. During harsh summers, the water regulations change constantly and so can your irrigation system at a moment’s notice to allow you to avoid costly fees.
What are you doing to be more water-wise?
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