If you're like most modern homeowners, you've taken measures to combat rising utility costs as well as keep your carbon footprint low for the sake of being a good planetary citizen. Saving water is an important part of this effort -- you may have installed low-flow showerheads, toilets, and other water-saving devices in your home interior, but don't forget to take conservation measures in your outdoor living space. Following are three great ways that you can save water in your lawn and garden area without sacrificing good looks and functionality. 

Replaces Your Down Spouts With Rain Chains

A rain chain is a stylish, effective alternative to a traditional downspout as well as an extremely effective water conservation tool. They've been used by the Japanese for hundreds of years as a way to direct water from roof gutter systems into cisterns or simple rain barrels, where it is then used to irrigate your lawn and garden area. Rain chains also add significant visual aesthetics to your home. They come in a huge variety of designs to suit all styles of homes, and the sound of the water falling through them is soothing and serene natural music. 

Install Smart Irrigation

Traditional outdoor irrigation systems can be extremely wasteful as far as water is concerned because when left to their own devices, homeowners tend to use way more water than necessary to meet their outdoor watering needs. Installing a smart irrigation system can save you tons of water in several different ways. For instance, if you've got your irrigation schedule set on a timer, the sensors attached to a smart irrigation system will cancel the watering session if it begins to rain and you aren't on the premises to turn off the water. You can also have soil probes installed that gauge the amount of moisture contained in your soil and adjusts irrigation amounts accordingly.

Go Native 

Native plants are genetically conditioned to thrive on the normal amount in rainfall provided by the climate in which they evolved. Your local plant nursery or landscaping professional should be able to help you choose some native trees, shrubs, and flowers that will thrive in your outdoor living space without any extra irrigation except during times of drought. As an added bonus, native vegetation is far less vulnerable to developing pest and pathogen problems because they've had time to develop a natural resistance to the ones specific to your area, unlike their imported counterparts.