With the rainy season behind us, it may be time to break out your sprinkler to keep your garden green.

Conserve water and keep your lawn green this summer by following these tips from the Regional Water Providers Consortium (RWPC):

• Water before 10 am or after 6 pm when the water is less likely to evaporate.
• Your lawn and garden should be watered about two times a week.
• Different plants have different needs, but on average, you should water your lawn about an inch of water per week.
• Make sure you are only watering plants or grass – don’t water the sidewalk!

Don’t know how much water you’re using? The RWPC is offering free water gauge kits that will measure how much water is landing on your lawn! Request your free kit by emailing RWPCinfo@portlandoregon.gov. Include your name, mailing address, water provider (like “City of Portland”), and how you heard about the offer.

RWPC also posts a “weekly watering number” online, which offers a guide for the amount of water you should use each week to keep your lawn healthy. Visit their website and enter your zip code to find your watering number: http://www.conserveh2o.org.

Regional Water Providers Consortium offers free watering gauge kits July 7 - 31

Washington County Reader Contributer, The Oregonian