A person’s garden can be a variety of things to the gardener, from multiple facets of their personality, to their place of utter relaxation and bliss, to a family effort to combat rising food costs and a shared bonding experience with their children.
There can be one drawback to owning a garden, however, regardless of the size of the plot of land and its location. Whether or not you have a window garden with a few flowers and herbs or a large plot of vegetables directly on your property, water constrictions can affect you. Numerous parts of the world are now experiencing drier conditions or seasons than normal, to the most affected areas in a full drought. This phenomenon has directly affected the cost of food and food production, resulting in increasing costs across global grocery stores and even local farmer markets.
There are many ways to save water for your personal garden and to learn just how beneficial some of these tips can be, continue reading below!
Why Save Water on Your Garden
There are multiple reasons to decrease the amount of water your garden is now soaking up. Rising water bill cost is definitely at the top of that list! Hydro and utility bills have risen upwards of 40% in the last decade, according to most financial analysts and the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down soon. If you are planting a garden to save money on your family’s grocery bill, it seems a bit of a moot point to only turn around and use those savings on a hydro bill.
Another gigantic reason to save water is to combat the worsening greenhouse effect experienced by everyone and everything. Temperatures are rising globally, resulting in unpredictable weather patterns and a lack of fresh rainfall for some areas. Do your part in the fight against the changing environment and reduce the amount of water you and your household are using on a daily or weekly basis. Every little bit counts!
Tips to Save Water
Choose the correct soil for your garden:
Making sure you are using an organic soil with added nutrients and water absorbing properties to support plant life. This can decrease your water usage by keeping moisture from different sources, such as the climate and previous rainfalls. Considering adding a moist fertilizer or organic compost to help deliver water in a different way than straight H20.
Install or Use a watering system that controls where the water is diverted to:
Sprinklers can be useful when you want to water an entire section of land, such as your lawn but they are not the best idea for a garden because there is little control on where the water lands. Wind patterns or blockages in the sprinkler can change the direction of the water and you may find yourself watering the driveway! A hose with an attached nozzle is easily the safest bet to control and direct water flow to the exact location you desire. Invest in a good solid hose reel to make cleanup from watering easiest, and save the stress on your body of coiling up the hose. Pop over to the Backyard Boss to check out the best hose reels available on the market today. If finances are permitting, you can also install an automated irrigation system but proceed with caution as these rise in cost the more elaborate they are.
Water at the correct times:
An alarming number of people tend to overwater their garden and completely soak the soil daily. This daily routine not only adds physical work to your garden, but can also harm some plants with a “drowning” affect. Use a simple testing method of digging down into a section of the garden about a spade deep. If the soil is dry to the touch and easy to shift through, then the garden needs to be watered. Trying to water your garden in the evening to decrease evaporation and create condensation in the rising temperatures of morning.
Plant flowers and vegetables that need less water:
There are a wide variety of plants that are considered drought resistant and not only survive but also thrive on a reduced watering schedule.
Recycle Water from your home and nature:
Instead of drawing your water for your garden directly from your main household source, place barrels or water containers in strategic locations to capture rainwater during wetter seasons. Once a container is full, seal it to keep cleanliness and freshness to use in the dryer months. Recycle water from your home by installing a greywater diverter, which directs water from your drainage pipes (you choose which ones) to your garden. If the water doesn’t contain harmful chemicals such as bleach or dyes, it is safe to use on most plants. Always check with a professional before deciding what pipes to connect to.
In Conclusion
Gardening is not meant to be a source of stress for a person but in fact, the complete opposite. Do not let something like the amount of water being used in your garden discourage a love of playing in the dirt and watching your hard work grow and prosper. Invest in a good hose and hose reel for easy cleanups and start controlling the amount of water your garden gets today!