Be the Envy of the Neighborhood

Conserving water outdoors doesn’t mean a brown lawn. Combine beauty and savings with these innovative ideas to help your home stand out.

picture of a house front showing their lawn and the neighborhood

Lawn Reduction Tips

Save 200,000 gal/year

Save your Saturdays for something besides lawn care with these tips for replacing lawn with low-maintenance landscaping made for Utah.

Tip 1

Replace lawn with beautiful plants that thrive in Utah with little water or care. Use the Utah Plant Selector to help you choose plants.

Tip 2

Prioritize replacing hard-to-water areas first, such as your parking strip.

Tip 3

Take a Localscapes class to learn more about the best waterwise plants for your yard. Learn more here.

Tip 4

See Tree, Shrub, and Flower Tips for ideas about caring for these plants. Use the Utah Plant Selector to help you choose plants.

picture of a water sprinkler running on a lawn

Watering Tips

Save 270,000 gal/year

Tackle your biggest water costs with smart watering practices that will give you the biggest bang for your buck.

Tip 1

Turn off sprinklers when it’s raining, windy, or during the hottest time of the day.

60,000 gallons saved annually

Tip 2

Use the Weekly Watering Guide to know just how much water your lawn needs based on conditions in your location.

Tip 3

Check to make sure sprinklers aren’t watering the sidewalk or driveway.

48,000 gallons saved annually

Tip 4

Inspect your sprinkler system once a month for broken, sunken, clogged, and tilted sprinkler heads.

96,000 gallons saved annually

Tip 5

Check soil moisture with a screwdriver. If it slides into the ground easily, wait to water.

Tip 6

Set out a can or jar to measure how much water your lawn is getting.

Tip 7

Sign up for a free Water Check here.

TBD based on check

Tip 8

Install a smart irrigation controller with help from a money-saving rebate.

3,375 gallons saved monthly

Tip 9

Install an automatic rain shutoff device on your sprinkler system.

3,000 gallons saved monthly

Tip 10

Install a pressure reducer on your sprinkler line if the water is misting and drifting away.

10,000 gallons saved annually

home front showing a light blue house and it's lawn

Lawn Maintenance Tips

Save 87,000 gal/year

Take it easy on your grass and your wallet with these tips for anyone with a lawn.

Tree & Shrub Tips

Save 95,000 gal/year

Help your landscaping and your bank account thrive with these tips and tricks.

Tip 1

Use a watering can instead of a hose to water flower pots and boxes that your sprinkler doesn’t reach.

48 gallons saved monthly

Tip 2

Keep up on weeding to create less competition for water.

2,000 gallons saved monthly

Tip 3

Learn just how much water your plants need and avoid overwatering. The Weekly Watering Guide can help you get started.

10,000 gallons saved annually

Tip 4

Keep a 2-4" layer of mulch around landscaping to reduce evaporation and weeds.

8,000 gallons saved annually

Tip 5

Plant new plants, prune, and divide perennials in the spring.

500 gallons saved annually

Tip 6

Prioritize watering valuable and vulnerable plants first: Trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and then grass.

375 gallons saved annually

Tip 7

Direct downspouts and other runoff toward trees and shrubs.

500 gallons saved monthly

Tip 8

Install a drip system for your garden or landscaping.

1,250 gallons saved monthly

Tip 9

Hydrozone your property by putting plants with similar water needs together.

1,000 gallons saved monthly

General Outdoor Tips

Save 29,000 gal/year

From washing a car to filling a pool, find more ways to save water and money.

Tip 1

Regularly check outdoor faucets, hoses, pipes, and pools for leaks and fix them promptly.

400 gallons saved monthly

Tip 2

Use a hose nozzle that stops spraying when not in use for activities such as washing cars.

400 gallons saved monthly

Tip 3

Wash your car on your lawn or at a commercial car wash that recycles water.

560 gallons saved monthly

Tip 4

Use a broom instead of a hose to clean sidewalks and driveways.

200 gallons saved monthly

Tip 5

Bathe your pets on an area of lawn that needs extra water.

60 gallons saved monthly

Tip 6

Cover your pool when not in use to prevent evaporation.

1350 gallons saved monthly

Tip 7

Keep pools and hot tubs 3-4 inches below the recommended fill level to prevent water loss from splashing.

700 gallons saved monthly

*These figures are just estimates. Actual gallons saved will depend on the individual water usage and the city where you reside.