Every Garden Needs These 8 Water Saving Devices

I live in Florida and we spend a lot time taking care of our lawns and gardens. With higher demands on water usage (especially for irrigation) creating a lush, green lawn and vibrant garden in getting tougher and more expensive.

In this post, I’ll show you eight water saving devices irrigation products I’ve personally found that maximize water efficiency without sacrificing the health of your yard. These products are chosen based on their effectiveness and innovative water-saving features in my personal opinion.

All of these products can be found conveniently in this Amazon shopping list if you’d like pick them up at the best prices on the web.

1. Drip Irrigation Systems

Drip irrigation is a highly efficient watering method that delivers water directly to the roots of plants, reducing evaporation and runoff. Also for windy parts of the country this keeps water waste way down. According to UMass, a properly installed drip system can cut water usage by as much as 80% compared to traditional sprinklers.

Systems like the Rain Bird Drip Irrigation Kit are easy to install and customizable to fit any garden layout, but there are lots of options to choose from in this category.

I use drip irrigation across most of my garden beds because traditional spray heads can cause a lot of uneven watering on shrubs leaving dry spots and over watered areas as well as tons of evaporation.

2. Smart Sprinkler Controllers

Smart controllers, such as the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller, use weather data to adjust watering schedules automatically, ensuring your lawn gets just the right amount of water. This technology helps save water and money by preventing over-watering.

I have this on my house and in addition to its weather based adjustments it makes managing your sprinkler system so much easier! You can quick-run zones and change run times right on your phone from anywhere in the world. Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller

3. Rotary Nozzles

Rotary nozzles like the Hunter MP Rotator are designed to deliver water at a slower rate, allowing it to soak into the soil more effectively. These nozzles provide uniform coverage and can reduce water usage by up to 30%.

This is something I also switched to on my larger section of lawn as opposed to using the standard spray heads and it has cut our water usage significantly. You have to water for a longer period of time than with standard spray heads, despite that the overall water usage is less and you need fewer heads to cover large areas.

4. Rain Sensors

Rain sensors, such as the Hunter Wireless Rain Sensor, automatically shut off your irrigation system when it detects rain, preventing unnecessary watering and saving water. This is a simple way to track how much rain is actually hitting your house.

If you use a rain sensor just make sure you have it in a good location where it isn’t shielded from train by a tree or gets excessive rain from roof runoff. Common issues I’ve seen in a lot of locations.

5. Soaker Hoses

This is about as basic as it gets. You don’t even need an irrigation system to use a soaker hose. You can simply attach it to your hose bid and turn it on for a while when your plants need a little efficient watering at their roots.

Soaker hoses like the Gilmour Flat Weeper Soaker Hose slowly release water along their length, directly into the soil. This method reduces evaporation and ensures deep watering of plant roots.

6. Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers

Controllers such as the Tempest Weather Station use weather data and forecasts to adjust watering schedules, optimizing water usage and ensuring your plants get the moisture they need without waste.

This was a father’s day gift for me last year and being able to know exactly how much rain we get at our house (regardless of what the weatherman says) has been a game changer. The Tempest also connects wirelessly with my Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller to modify my watering schedule based on the rain we actually received.

7. High-Efficiency Sprinkler Heads

High-efficiency sprinkler heads like the Toro Precision Series Spray Nozzles are designed to reduce water usage while providing even coverage. They feature a low precipitation rate that minimizes runoff.

With traditional spray heads it’s easy to have a lot of water runoff which you pay for. These higher efficiency heads deliver a rate that fixes that. The result is a matched precipitation rate of 1” per hour – an industry first – while using up to 35% less water than a standard spray nozzle.

8. Soil Moisture Sensors

Soil moisture sensors, such as the Gardena Soil Moisture Sensor, measure the moisture level in the soil and adjust the irrigation schedule accordingly. This prevents over-watering and ensures efficient water use.

If you have some very sensitive plantings or newly planted trees that is something that can work very well to keep those specific moisture requirements dead on. While it won’t work for a whole lawn solution its more of a custom spot solution.

Final Thoughts

Investing in water-efficient irrigation products can make a significant difference in your water usage and the health of your lawn and garden. The products mentioned in this post not only help conserve water but also ensure that your plants receive optimal hydration.

By integrating some or all of these water saving devices in your yard you can achieve a beautiful yard while promoting sustainability at the same time.