Gardeners can study up to water new landscapes

Barbara Aiken is among the nearly 20,000 Atlanta gardeners who are now certified to water new landscapes under the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council’s Outdoor Water Use Registration Program.

The lifelong gardener learned that she can water a new landscape 30 days in a 10-week period after spotting a certification sign posted in a neighbor’s yard. So after paying $4.95 at the urban agriculture council’s Web site she took the online exam. But Aiken scored just 65 percent; she needed 70 percent to pass. Not discouraged, she reviewed the site’s study materials and took the test once more, this time scoring a perfect 100.

Aiken said she was surprised at the difficulty of some of the questions on the 20-question quiz; one, for example, asked the name of the grass that uses the most water.

“Interestingly enough, it was mine,” she said. “Fescue.”

With fall temperatures reducing evaporation rates, now is the best time to plant perennials, trees and shrubs. It’s not too late to be certified to water your fall landscape, or to get a head start on a spring certification. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

What it is: The Outdoor Water Use Registration Program, which includes an “awareness quiz,” grants water-conscious gardeners permission to water any grass seed or plants installed in the previous 30 days. The program applies to North Georgians (including metro Atlantans) under a level IV stage of drought. Not sure if this applies to you? Check with your water provider.

When you need it: Whether you’re hiring a crew or doing it yourself, homeowners with newly installed plants, or those aerating or reseeding lawns, must be certified before watering the new garden or lawn. Certification allows you to water for 30 days during a 10-week period, between midnight and 10 a.m.; those with odd-numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, while even-numbered addresses may use their irrigation systems Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. During installation, new landscapes may be watered at any time. All types of supplemental irrigation are allowed with the certification —- including installed irrigation systems, drip irrigation, soaker hoses, oscillating and overhead sprinklers.

What you can do without certification: Those growing vegetable or fruit gardens may water at any time without certification. Pesticides or herbicides applied by a professional landscape company can be watered in after application using any type of supplemental irrigation. You may also test a newly installed irrigation system or perform maintenance on an installed irrigation system with certification. Established landscapes, planting beds, individual plants or containers may be hand-watered for 25 minutes between midnight and 10 a.m. three days a week according to the odd/even schedule. Hand-watering means usi a garden hose with a spray nozzle that shuts off when not in use.

Where to be certified: The easiest method is by going online at www.outdoorwateruse.com. You can also check with your local garden center or nearest University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office (1-800-275-8421); no exam fee applies at the extension office.

Source: Deron Davis, director of the WaterSense program for the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and Mary Kay Woodworth, president of the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council.