Drought-Friendly Gardening in Wichita. Save Water Without Sacrificing Beauty.
Hello, again!
How does odd/even watering work in Wichita? It's simple:
- If your address ends in an odd number, you can water on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
- If your address ends in an even number, you can water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
- No outdoor watering on Mondays.
Additionally, time restrictions are in place to keep watering to the most efficient time of day. There is no watering allowed between 10:00am – 6:00pm any day of the week.
Here in south-central Kansas, water has always been one of our most valuable resources. With Cheney Reservoir currently sitting at healthy levels, it’s easy to feel like water conservation isn’t urgent. But we can all remember when levels dropped, restrictions were put in place, and every drop mattered. Gardeners got by with watering once a week, but it wasn’t ideal. The truth is, the best time to conserve water is before we have to.
Whether you’re growing vegetables, maintaining a lawn, or planting flower beds, a few simple practices can make a big difference:
- Water deeply, and less often, to encourage deeper root systems.
- Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation, before 10:00 AM, and after 6:00 PM, as allowed.
- Water the root zone to reduce evaporation
These small adjustments not only conserve water, but they often result in healthier, more resilient plants.
Did you know the City of Wichita offers a water conservation rebate program for their customers?
Homeowners can receive incentives for up to $100 by incorporating water-saving lawns and plants into their landscapes. A full list of discount-eligible turf seeds, grasses, plants, and shrubs is available here.
After purchasing any of these options, fill out a rebate application to receive the rebate on your water bill. Eligible grasses include: Bermudagrass, buffalograss, and zoysiagrass (either seed, sprigs, or sod). Both deciduous and evergreen shrubs are also listed, in small to large varieties. The Kansas State Research and Extension has an expanded list of Water-Wise Trees & Ornamental Shrubs for our area here.
If you are interested in making your lawn and garden more water-conscious, stop by either of our stores, where we have plants identified and can assist in selecting water-wise plants. These plants not only require less water, but they also support local ecosystems and provide season-long beauty.
Another simple and effective way to conserve moisture is by applying a 2–3 inch layer of organic mulch.
Mulch is essential for moisture retention and works as a protective blanket for your soil that pays for itself in water savings. Have you ever purchased a cheap mulch and regretted it? Maybe it sprouted weeds, or floated away in the first heavy rain. This won't happen with our Grade-A Cedar Mulch. It's expertly designed for the job, and much more. This all-bark mulch is made of western red cedar. It provides a thick protective layer that won't float or blow away, smells and looks great, is rot and mold-resistant, and holds color well. Use it in your garden, landscaping, and around newly planted trees and shrubs.
Products like Hydretain (available in both Granular or Ready to Spray) can also stretch your watering efforts further. Hydretain works by capturing moisture from the air and releasing it into the soil, helping lawns, gardens, and planters stay hydrated longer between waterings.
Another option is our Soil Moist Granules, which can store over 200 times their weight in water, reducing watering up to 50%, and delivering it to your plants right when they need it. We recommend mixing Soil Moist directly into your soil or potting mix for highly effective moisture management.
Even in years when water is plentiful, building good habits now helps ensure we’re prepared for the future. By combining thoughtful plant selections, efficient watering, and simple tools like mulch and moisture managers, we can enjoy beautiful landscapes while protecting our shared water supply.
Because we all know, conditions in Kansas can change quickly. And when they do, gardeners who planned ahead will be glad they did.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
P.S - Here's a friendly reminder that Johnson's annual Fill-A-Flat Pre-Order will be available April 1. Don't sleep on ordering your favorite flats of annuals - we all know they sell out quickly!
