When it comes to our beautiful gardens at home, we all want them to look as lush and green as possible, but people are increasingly growing aware of the dangers of abusing the water currently at our disposal. But, conserving water in the garden doesn’t have to lead to dead or dying plants, it just requires a bit more effort and consideration on your part. Here are some of the ways you can reduce your water consumption in your garden without impacting your plants.
Go Vertical
Vertical gardening offers gardeners a way to grow the greatest number of plants in the least amount of space. It’s a relatively simple concept that is even more simple to execute, though there are a few options to consider. When comparing a vertical garden that uses soil with a hydroponic tower, for example, you will get more nutritious produce from the soil-grown vegetables in a similar footprint. So, be sure you understand the basics before you build your system. Whichever vertical option you choose, using a simple irrigation system in this tower is also far more efficient than traditional watering techniques. By making use of the vertical space that we have available to us, we can grow a huge amount of produce or flowers in a relatively small amount of space and use fewer resources doing it.
Timing is Everything
Watering your garden at optimal times of day can offset losses due to evaporation and keep your plants feeling hydrated. You want to water your garden early in the morning before it is too warm, and later in the afternoon, after the heat of the day has dissipated. Watering during the midday heat leads to a significant amount of liquid being evaporated well before the water reaches your plants’ roots. Keeping an eye on weather patterns will also help you to know when to water your garden, as watering your plants and keeping the soil moist before a drought sets in will help prevent the soil from drying out, which drastically lowers the ground’s ability to quickly absorb water.
Choose the Best Watering Technique
Sprinklers are some of the most inefficient ways to water anything, with no way to water specific areas. Hoses and watering cans are better in their precision, but they are labor intensive, especially with anything larger than a small garden. Seep hoses, which are hoses with holes in them that allow water to seep out, are a much better option. They can be buried below mulch or soil, which reduces evaporation, but they are only suited for watering in rows. Automated irrigation systems are the most efficient in terms of water use, but they are also the most expensive systems to install and operate. Choosing the right system for your needs is important so be sure to do your research before installing anything. Another thing to consider is using recycled egg cartons as planters to help retain water better to help save on the supple.
At the end of the day, a water-wise garden needs less attention and maintenance than a normal garden, while being better for the environment in general. By using water as responsibly as we each can, we can ensure the benefits of a healthy water ecosystem for our foreseeable future.
