November 7, 2005
KEEP YOUR LANDSCAPING BEAUTIFUL DURING WATER RESTRICTIONS

NC Beautiful Offers Triangle Residents Tips On Watering Balance

RALEIGH, NC (November 07, 2005) – With water restrictions taking effect last week, there’s no doubt that Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill residents are trying to find the perfect balance between avoiding fines and maintaining their landscapes.

NC Beautiful, a 40-year-old non-profit dedicated to environmental stewardship throughout North Carolina, understands the delicate relationship between maintaining water supplies and the plants that support a healthy, beautiful environment.

“Plants, trees and flowers provide vital oxygen as well as shade that is necessary for a healthy environment,” advises Tom Gilmore, owner of Gilmore Plant & Bulbs, a veteran nurseryman and NC Beautiful leader. “There are some very simple steps residents can take to conserve water while keeping their valuable plant investments healthy.”

Gilmore says homeowners should:
1. Keep plants and beds mulched properly- Pine straw or other type of mulch will help hold moisture in the ground longer during periods of decreased watering.
2. Add small retaining edges around plants- Use landscaping edging or stones to form a small wall around mulch areas. This will decrease run-off and give more moisture to the plant.
3. Water early in the morning rather than late at night if possible- Preferably between 6 and 8 am. Gilmore notes that more disease could form on plants when they are watered at night.
4. Select plants that handle low-moisture well-Trees such as the persimmon, white oak, and sourwood all require low to moderate moisture and will thrive well during periods of light watering.

“These simple steps will help maintain the beauty of Wake County while protecting the investment residents have made in their landscaping and their property,” says Jane Rogers, NC Beautiful managing director. “Water restrictions are important to the survival of our communities and we want to assist in making this time of drought easier for everyone.”

Gilmore is the former NC Nurseryman’s Association president; he was a member of the NC State Assembly and is currently the North Carolina representative for the American Landscape and Nurserymen Association.

ABOUT NC BEAUTIFUL
NC Beautiful is a non-profit environmental education organization interested in protecting North Carolina’s natural beauty and good environmental stewardship. Governor and Mrs. Dan K. Moore founded it in 1966. Governor Easley serves as honorary chair of the Board of Directors, which is comprised of volunteers from across North Carolina. NC Beautiful sponsors other programs to promote beautification and stewardship. It also provides $1,000 incentive grants to teachers and $10,000 research fellowships to graduate students studying environmental sciences at North Carolina universities, and manages a research-focused scholars program at the undergraduate level. For more information about programs in which your community, schools, and citizens can participate, contact NC Beautiful at PO Box 10155, Raleigh, NC 27605; call 919-828-3028; or e-mail ncbeautiful@bellsouth.net.