How to Save Water in the Garden
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Garden Water Conservation Tips
I'm an avid gardener from the southeast region of the USA. Last year, due to lack of rain, my area experienced a serious drought and my garden suffered miserably. Although my particular area is now showing signs of recovery, there is no guarantee that we won't have a repeat of last year's situation. That's why I've been studying how to conserve water in the garden.
This page contains the best water conservation tips that I've found to date.
Watering the Garden photo appears courtesy of MarkHillary
Water Conservation in the Garden
How to conserve water in your garden
Before you decide where and what to plant this year, spend a little time thinking about your own watering system. What is your primary source for watering your garden and yard? Is it a single hose attached to the side of your garage? Do you have in-ground sprinklers? Will you need to trek back and forth with a watering can?
And how much time do you have to spend on this chore? Are you home all day? Can you spend hours watering your garden or are you like most people whose gardening time is limited to a few hours on the weekend?
Being water wise before you plant can save you money, time and a lot of unnecessary effort.
Watering the Garden photo appears courtesy of MarkHillary

Water Wisely
Water Conservation Quick Poll

Every Drop is Precious
Smart Garden Planning
Plan Ahead to Save Water
When choosing your garden plants, and a site for your garden, be sure to take into consideration the amount of water they will need in order to remain vigorous.
Try to keep water loving plants together and close to your main source of water.
Place drought tolerant plants in south-facing areas, and in places that are harder to reach with your hose.
Study your landscape after it rains. Where are the high spots? High spots will dry quickly. Choose these locations for your plants that don't require as much water. Watch for puddling in low lying areas. Place your water loving plants in these locations.
Save the Water photo appears courtesy of JimmyHarris
Plant Drought Resistant Plants
Gorgeous Gardens Without the Watering Fuss

Save Every Drop
Use Water Efficiently
Water Wisely
If you are lucky enough to have a pop-up sprinkler system, be sure to plant your garden within its parameters and adjust it as weather demands.
If you don't have a pop-up sprinkler system, you can purchase an inexpensive drip hose and wind it around, and through, your garden. A drip hose works well to save time and water because it places the water right where you need it with very little wasted by evaporation.
Keeping a bucket under a leaky outdoor faucet, or gutter, is another way to save water that can be used for watering your container plants.
Water Droplet photo appears courtesy of Discoodoni
Try a Rain Barrel
How to Make a Rain Barrel
- How To Make A Rainbarrel
- How To Make A Rain Barrel
Know Your Soil
Amend your soil to save water
Amending the soil according to watering conditions can help you conserve water.
When planting your garden in dry or sandy areas, be sure to add some organic matter to the soil to help maintain moistness. Building water basins, or berms around your plants will help them absorb more water, without wasting too.
A top layer of mulch will seal the deal and insure that your plants can make the most of your watering efforts.
Drops of Life photo appears courtesy of banoootah_qtr
Use Moisture Control Potting Soil When Container Gardening
I've noticed a big increase in my floral displays when using this product also.

Don't Waste Water
Other Ways to Conserve Water Consumption
Your precious garden plants shouldn't have to fight it out with the dandelions in order to get the amount of water they need to survive. Besides why would you want to waste water on unwanted, and unwelcome guests. Pluck any and all weeds before they get big enough to do damage.
Don't fertilize your plants during dry spells. It's unnecessary and will do them more harm than good.
By planning and planting your garden with your watering system in mind you'll not only be doing your part to conserve water, you'll be saving yourself a lot of money and best of all, you'll be saving yourself a lot of time. What could be better than that?
Every Drop Counts photo appears courtesy of Axel Buhrmann

Every Drop Counts
Drought Resistant Pomegranate Tree
Find More Information About Water Conservation

Are You Doing Everything You Can to Save Water?
How Do You Conserve Water While Gardening?
Please share, or vote for your favorite gardening water conservation tip.
1
I only plant drought resistant plants.
1 point
2
You can use Rubberecycle mulch for garden
1 point
3
By using an automatic sensor watering system
Through this method we can easily save water ....
more...1 point
4
5
I never water during the hottest time of day.
Watering your garden in the blaring sun makes no s more...0 points
6
I use a rain barrel.
0 points
8
http://www.motion-activated-sprinklers.com/0 points
100 Ways to Save Water
- Water - Use It Wisely-Northwest
- National water conservation campaign with water saving devices and tips that educate consumers on simple ways to save water.
- Water - Use It Wisely-Southwest
- National water conservation campaign with water saving devices and tips that educate consumers on simple ways to save water.
- Water - Use It Wisely-Northeast
- National water conservation campaign with water saving devices and tips that educate consumers on simple ways to save water.
- Water - Use It Wisely-Southeast
- National water conservation campaign with water saving devices and tips that educate consumers on simple ways to save water.
Drought Tolerant Fruiting Olive Tree
Let eBay Help you Conserve Water in your Garden
Clicking on a product will bring you directly to the eay site where you can bid and buy with confidence.
Water Conservation Conversation
(Try saying that 3 times fast)
Join the discussion about saving water in the garden. Please leave your thoughts, feelings, rants, or raves here.
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Vallygems1
Jan 18, 2012 @ 3:42 am | delete
- Water will soon be the most precious commodity on this planet use it well
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AnthonyAltorenna
Aug 27, 2011 @ 7:49 am | delete
- Excellent tips on conserving water in the garden. We use a lot of native plants that are adapted to average rainfall in our local environment.
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Kimbesa Jun 4, 2011 @ 4:26 pm | delete
- Thanks! Nice overview of an important topic!
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gravityx9
Jan 31, 2011 @ 5:39 pm | delete
- Super Lens! I have featured it with my Earth Lens 'It's Good To Be Green' ! THUMBS UP *SEE IT HERE*
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HorseAndPony
Nov 4, 2009 @ 9:56 pm | delete
- Love this. We are so into conserving water in the garden. We actually only water if we recently planted. Everything in our yard is just very natural.
One woman's weeds are another woman's flowers.
~ HorseAndPony
:)
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Rebecca
Apr 2, 2009 @ 4:47 pm | delete
- Save rain water and save money by making your own catchment system. Pictorial construction guide, calculator, safety issues and more on my non-commercial website: How to Construct a Rain Barrel
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windowbox
Jan 20, 2009 @ 3:34 am | delete
- Great Lens.. abt gardening but people who do not have such space at there home can move to container gardening by using containers like Flower Window Boxes, Window Box Planter, Window Box
Planter and all of these will bring enormous beauty for your house%u2026
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LisaLogan
May 2, 2008 @ 11:21 pm | delete
- Great lens! 5 stars. My top garden water tips are to choose native plant varieties, use square foot and intensive planting methods, install drip irrigation, and get rid of the Great American Lawn. Thanks for posting this.
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EchoTarpeian
May 1, 2008 @ 6:46 am | delete
- Nice Lens and Great Topic:) I am featuring this Lens in our group, Planet Earth: Our Garden of Eden... thanks for joining!
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totalhealth Apr 24, 2008 @ 4:11 pm | delete
- nice lens and good tips.
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by rms
Robin Svedi is a Community Organizer and the QuestMaster for Squidoo. You can keep up with her at rms on Squidoo. She's also the author of Eye Popping... more »
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