Region-wide watering regulations are in effect from May 1 to October 15, regardless of weather conditions. But don't despair. Your lawn and garden can look great, even when water regulations are in place. Choosing local, drought-resistant plants, adapting your watering routine, and utilizing water conservation tools are just some of the ways you can reduce your water consumption during peak periods and still enjoy a beautiful, sustainable garden.
Reducing outdoor watering needs is an important part of the Grow Green approach. Here are some solutions to get you started:
- Let your lawn go brown – brown is the new green when it comes to summertime lawns. Your grass needs as little as 2 cm of water every week to stay green, so letting it take a rest is one of the easiest ways to reduce water use. An hour of rain or watering per week is all you need for a healthy lawn.
- Get a spring-loaded nozzle for watering – an easy way to control your water usage. A nozzle or watering can are both better solutions than just letting water run straight from the hose when it's not being applied to garden areas.
- Break up the surface of soil before watering – hardened soil won’t let the water through.
- Mulch key shrubs and gardens – plants protected by mulch require less frequent watering. Adding a layer of material like wood or bark chips, leaves, grass clippings, or compost, can preserve moisture by reducing soil temperature, sheltering the ground from drying winds, and slowing the rate of evaporation from the soil.
- Pull containers into the shade – on hot summer days, pull containers or planters into the shade to avoid the afternoon sun.
- Use a rain barrel – rain barrels connected to your roof downspouts harvest water that would otherwise end up in storm sewers. Combine rain barrels with a drip irrigation system and you can reduce your water requirements, spend less time watering, and keep plants healthy at the same time. (Some Metro Vancouver municipalities offer special deals on rain barrel purchases to encourage rainwater collection, so be sure to check with your City Hall to see what's on offer.)
- Use grey water (re-use water from sinks and tubs) – you can collect grey water from the kitchen, laundry, shower, and/or bath for re-use in your garden. A super-simple way? Keep a bucket handy to collect the 'waiting-to-warm-up' water from the hot water tap that might otherwise go down the drain.
Additional Resources
Tips to Conserve Water at Home
For Metro Vancouver's Waterwise tips and how-to videos.
Lawn Watering Regulations
Learn about region-wide watering regulations, which are an effective way to help us use our drinking water wisely.
Rainfall Calculator
Estimate how much water you can collect with a rain barrel by entering the dimensions of your roof.
More Ideas for Less Lawn
Design ideas and landscaping suggestions to help you swap out thirsty lawn space for usable outdoor living space and drought-resistant landscaping.