Even in areas not suffering from drought, making a water-wise garden makes good sense. Unless you have your own well, water costsy. You can save quite a bit of money by using less of it. Here are some tips:
- First, when looking at new plants, look for drought tolerant plants, which don’t need as much water in the first place.
- Then, consider converting your overhead irrigation to drip irrigation for all non-lawn areas if you haven’t already done so. This concentrates the water where it needs to be (around the plant root ball) while eliminating excess runoff and evaporation.
- Water early in the morning when the temperatures are cooler and the sun isn’t as intense. Thus, more water will penetrate your plants instead of evaporating into the air. The best time is between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. (this will also help fight mildew and fungus, as the plants will have time to dry out before evening).
- When hand watering, make sure to place your nozzle near the base of the plant instead of above the plant, where water is wasted wetting the foliage.
- Water lawns more deeply instead of more frequently when it gets hotter. You should have your timers set to water only until your lawn reaches the point of runoff. After that no additional water can be absorbed. Most lawns can get by on 20-30 minutes of water every three days. They may not look as good but they will survive. Deeper watering also encourages the roots to go down further to chase the water, which results in less heat stress on the roots.
- Raise the mowing height on your mower. Taller grass cools and shelters the roots below, helping to reduce the need for more frequent watering.
- Add a granulated soil conditioner to the lawn to help break up compacted soil particles and aerate your soil, allowing roots to penetrate deeper into the soil. This also helps the lawn become more resistant to pests, disease and weeds.
- Cover open areas around plants and trees with a two-inch layer of mulch to help reduce evaporation, keep the soil moist and cool, and fight weeds.
- Make sure to pull weeds as needed to reduce competition for water, and feed your garden at least quarterly to help your plants stay healthy and strong. Use a plant food with lower, slow-release nitrogen to prevent rampant, fleshy new growth that uses lots of water.
- Add a granulated soil polymer to potting soil when planting in containers. It expands when watered, holding water in the soil longer.
- Leave a two-inch space between the top of the soil and the rim of your containers, so that there is enough room for holding water without flowing down the sides of your pot. Place a layer of mulch or bark on top of the soil to help retain moisture.
By incorporating these garden tips every year - year-round - your garden will not only survive if there is a dry spell, but will also use less water, thereby helping to prevent water shortages - and saving you money!