How to Save Water in the Garden

Whether or not it is because of drought, the dog days of summer, a desire to save water for future generations, or simply the rising cost of their water bills, smart gardeners are planning their gardens around their own flow of water.

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

Smart garden planning will save you a lot of needless work and help you conserve 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

Take advantage of the watering system that you already have in place.
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

Amend the soil for water conditions in your area.
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

Keep weeds to a minimum.
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