The Aurora Water-Wise Garden showcases 200 low-water plants. It’s open to visitors at Alameda Pkwy and Chambers Rd. Front Porch photo by Christie Gosch

1. Water shorter bursts on your lawn and watch for runoff after 5-7 minutes.
2. Water plants in the morning. Water again in the evening if needed.
3. Check sprinkler coverage to ensure all sprinklers are turned in the right direction.
4. Make sure water is not leaking from valves, heads, and backflow. It is important to check for water waste.
5. Check all drip irrigation for leaks and keep poly pipes buried in the ground. Pipes need to be protected from the sun to avoid cracking or splitting.
6. Mulch planting areas at 2- to 3-inch depth to keep the moisture in and around the trees/plants.
7. Don’t do too much overhead hard pruning on shrubs. Exposing the underlying foliage to the sun and heat could dry and burn the plant.
8. Reseeding lawns now would only make you use more water to keep the seed moist for germination.
9. Planting now is fine, but you need to water more frequently. Fall is a great time for planting so consider waiting a month.
10. If planting trees, it’s a good idea to insert a 2-inch diameter pipe at an angle into the hole for future deep watering to force the roots to grow downward.

Tips and photos below courtesy of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Over time, irrigation pipes can become exposed which can lead to damage by the sun and hot temperatures.

Fresh mulch is used to cover the roots of a bush to protect it from the heat.