Live green in your yard and garden to help protect our valuable water resource and the environment.
With a changing climate and longer dry spells in the summer, our winter water that replenishes the Sooke Lake Reservoir for use over the entire year will need to last for longer.
By preparing in the fall, we can have a thriving yard and garden during the dry summer months and help make sure there is enough water available to meet drinking water demand, for fire protection and to support fish and ecosystems.
You can help with these tips:
Convert unused lawn to native plant meadows
Adapted to our northern Mediterranean climate, native plants are often pest and disease free with no watering and fertilizer required. Converting traditional lawn to native plant meadows saves time, money and water!
Complete fall lawn care
Every summer, lawn care is a major draw in our water supply, but a healthy lawn needs less water. Be proactive and practice fall lawn care for a thriving water-wise lawn during the dry summer months:
- Remove dead matted grass by de-thatching.
- Aerate to allow water and nutrients to seep into the soil more easily.
- Apply lime if needed.
- Top dress with compost and overseed with a drought-tolerant alternative like micro clover.
- Adjust your watering to account for rainfall.
Winterize your irrigation system
In the capital region's mild winters, it may not seem necessary to winterize your irrigation system. However, even a quick freeze can wreak havoc on irrigation systems and equipment. This fall, make sure to winterize your system to help prevent leaks and damage. Watch this video on winterization to learn more.