Waterwise Garden Tips

Outdoor Water Tips

Living in Metro Vancouver means we’re fortunate to live in a temperate climate. However, we often turn to water as a tool we can always rely on while it’s actually a limited resource that isn’t always the best option for our needs. From cleaning the car to watering outdoor plants to maintaining decks, the following tips help reduce use of treated drinking water for outdoor activities and offer alternatives to common habits.

Top Tips

Lawn Tips

Garden Tips

<strong>Install a rain-barrel</strong> near your vegetable beds	23	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/Rain Barrel	<strong>Install a rain-barrel</strong> near your vegetable beds	<div class="ExternalClassBB01248F49CE4D6692B6BD8C83258B45"><p> Water vegetable gardens with<strong> water saved in a rain barrel</strong> instead of treated drinking water.<br></p></div>	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/RainBarrel.jpg, /welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/RainBarrel.jpg http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/RainBarrel.jpg	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/RainBarrelShare.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/RainBarrelShare.jpg	13.0000000000000
Put leaves and bark mulch around shrubs and trees to <strong>hold in moisture</strong>	3	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/Mulch	Put leaves and bark mulch around shrubs and trees to <strong>hold in moisture</strong>	<div class="ExternalClassAE03BAAACAD046AC9727CAF152C7066F"><p>Put leaves and bark mulch around shrubs and trees to <strong>hold in moisture </strong>and slow evaporation.<br></p></div>	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/mulch.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/mulch.jpg http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/mulch.jpg	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/MulchShare.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/MulchShare.jpg	19.0000000000000
Plant native species	38	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/Native Species	Plant native species	<div class="ExternalClass9B5167357DF541D8BB8E7DE17F2F0C0F"><p> <strong>Plant species native</strong> to our region. They are better suited to our climate, and can often thrive on rainfall alone.<br></p></div>	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/NativePlants.jpg, Native Plants http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/NativePlants.jpg	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/NativePlants.jpg, Native Plants	8.00000000000000
Group plants by watering needs	37	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/Group Plants	Group plants by watering needs	<div class="ExternalClass7F8CB9C21CFD46C8AF8E257A74FB9055"><p> <strong>Group plants</strong> with similar watering needs to avoid overwatering those that don't require much water.<br></p></div>	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/GroupPlants.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/TipImages/GroupPlants.jpg http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/GroupPlants.jpg	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/GroupPlantsShare.jpg, Plant Groups Share	3.00000000000000
Plant gardens in spring and fall	39	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/Spring Fall Planting	Plant gardens in spring and fall	<div class="ExternalClass7B39E3990BAC4D91B4CC358A8913A71F"><p> <strong>Plant in wetter seasons</strong> like spring and fall, not during the watering regulations (May to September).<br></p></div>	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/PlantGardens.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/TipImages/PlantGarden.jpg http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/PlantGardens.jpg	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/PlantGardenShare.jpg, Plant in spring and Fall	2.00000000000000
<strong>Install a shut-off nozzle</strong> on your hose	7	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/Shut-Off Valve	<strong>Install a shut-off nozzle</strong> on your hose	<div class="ExternalClass994C551040614D219A655512BA87AEA9"><p> <strong>Install a shut-off nozzle</strong> on your hose to ensure it only runs when in use. An average garden hose delivers around 45 litres of water each minute.<br></p></div>	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/hosevalve.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/hosevalve.jpg http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/hosevalve.jpg	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/HoseValveShare.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/HoseValveShare.jpg	13.0000000000000
<strong>Save dry leaves</strong> in the fall to use as mulch in the spring.	16	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/Dry Leaves	<strong>Save dry leaves</strong> in the fall to use as mulch in the spring.	<div class="ExternalClassA851CF3F0BE244F2AC207E45D615F51C"><p> <strong>Save fall leaves</strong> in an old garbage can or tarp to keep them for use as mulch in the spring.<br></p></div>	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/savedryleaves.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/savedryleaves.jpg http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/savedryleaves.jpg	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/SaveDryLeavesShare.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/SaveDryLeavesShare.jpg	13.0000000000000
<strong>Use grow bags</strong> to water trees during dry spells	19	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/Grow Bags	<strong>Use grow bags</strong> to water trees during dry spells	<div class="ExternalClassC91B23B440B84C8A8033A79C26ABBBB7"><p> <strong>Use grow bags</strong> on trees to deliver water deep below the soil surface and encourage root growth during dry conditions.<br></p></div>	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/dripbag.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/dripbag.jpg http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/dripbag.jpg	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/DripBagShare.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/DripBagShare.jpg	19.0000000000000
Use a <strong>soaker hose to water</strong> deeply	20	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/Soaker Hose	Use a <strong>soaker hose to water</strong> deeply	<div class="ExternalClass9E37A6DD29644BF8A6FCBBC743CB24F7"><p>Use a<strong> soaker hose to water</strong> deeply at the root, reducing water runoff.<br></p></div>	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/soakerhose.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/soakerhose.jpg http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/soakerhose.jpg	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/SoakerHoseShare.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/SoakerHoseShare.jpg	31.0000000000000
Choose plants that <strong>love dry heat</strong>	22	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/Chose Heat Plants	Choose plants that <strong>love dry heat</strong>	<div class="ExternalClass7E350F5A90E0431EA28D0E2517C339FC"><p>Choose<strong> plants that love dry heat</strong> like tomatoes, basil, beans, melon, eggplant.<br></p></div>	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/HeatPlants.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/TipImages/HeatPlants.jpg http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/HeatPlants.jpg	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/HeatPlantsShare.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/TipImages/HeatPlantsShare.jpg	8.00000000000000
Let your planter boxes <strong>enjoy the shade</strong>	21	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/Planter Boxes	Let your planter boxes <strong>enjoy the shade</strong>	<div class="ExternalClassECEEEA4C1BA24674A392EBA2E461E472"><p>Pull planter boxes <strong>into the shade</strong> so they won't dry out.<br></p></div>	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/PlanterBox.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/TipImages/PlanterBox.jpg http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/PlanterBox.jpg	http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/outdoor-tips/TipImages/PlanterBoxShare.jpg, http://www.metrovancouver.org/welovewater/water-saving-tips/outdoor-tips/TipImages/PlanterBoxShare.jpg	8.00000000000000

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Metro Vancouver acknowledges that the region’s residents live, work, and learn on the shared territories of many Indigenous peoples, including 10 local First Nations: q́ićəý̓(Katzie), q́ʷɑ:ńƛ̓əń (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), máthxwi (Matsqui), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), se’mya’me (Semiahmoo), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), scəẃaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) and sə́lílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).

Metro Vancouver respects the diverse and distinct histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, which collectively enrich our lives and the region.