Here’s a good article on growing beautiful gardens while conserving water by Deborah Tukua for Farmers’ Almanac.
Water is essential to growing healthy gardens and landscape plants. As the thermometer rises, water usage increases. While watering plants is a basic necessity, we want to trade ineffective, harmful practices for the most effective and efficient ways to raise healthy, hydrated plants.
Whether you’re tending a vegetable garden, landscape plants, herb or flower beds, these 10 strategies will help you conserve water and use it wisely. Learn the when, why, and how-to-water your garden the earth-friendly way!
Watering Wisdom
- Recycling Water. Do you have a fish bowl? When changing the water in your fish bowl or tank, instead of pouring the soiled water down the drain use it to water and fertilize your flowering plants. If you have a koi pond, fill your watering can with pond water to water your plants.
- Layer Mulch. Adding layers of organic mulch to your garden conserves moisture, reduces weed growth and soil disease, and keeps the soil cooler during the summer. Lay several sheets of newspaper directly on the garden soil around flower and vegetable plantings, as the first layer of mulch. Cover the newspaper with a thick layer of organic mulch in late spring or early summer to help retain moisture in the soil and to reduce the need for frequent watering.
- Perennials vs. Annuals. Planting perennials instead of annuals in flower beds not only saves money, time and effort spent planting each year, but it saves water too. Annual botanicals generally have shallow root systems that require lots of watering. Perennials usually have deeper, more developed root systems that require less water than annual flowers.
- Water Wisely. Most landscape plants do not need to be watered every day. To encourage the development of deep, healthy root systems in landscape plants, when possible practice deep, infrequent watering instead of daily watering. Excessive watering of young plants deters healthy root system formation. Overwatering stresses plants, stops air from reaching the roots, and causes further problems such as susceptibility to pest infestation and disease.
- When to Water. Water outdoor plants early in the morning or at night to reduce evaporation loss. Evaporation is most likely to occur at midday and on windy days.
- The Best Way to Water. Spraying plants with a garden hose wastes water and does not direct the water where it is needed, to the roots growing beneath the soil. Wetting the foliage increases the chances of disease. A drip irrigation system or a soaker hose are two highly efficient ways to water garden plants. Both methods allow the water to soak into the soil and plant roots – no water wasted. The plant foliage remains dry and healthy.
- Garden with Recirculating Water. Aquaponics is a sustainable and extremely efficient way to raise a variety of healthy herbs and vegetables. Its superior recirculating water system will conserve water usage, and eliminate loss. Small aquaponic systems for home growers, and plans to build your own are available online.
- Rely on Rainfall. Rainfall should be the main water source for your landscape. Rainfall typically provides adequate water for established trees and shrubs in your yard. Position a rain gauge in your yard to accurately measure the amount of rainfall you’ve received. Check the rain gauge before watering.
- Collect Rain Water. Place a water barrel beneath the downspouts of the house to collect rainwater. Use the rainwater in your watering can to directly water the soil and roots of your garden plants and flower beds.
- How to Tell When Garden Plants Need Water. Plants looking slightly wilted in the late afternoon sun on a hot summer day is normal. However, if the plant(s) looks wilted in the morning, water right away.
