Every year, households rack up a significant amount on their bills due to water usage. One way to cut back significantly is in the garden. Providing just the right amount of water for plants can help to reduce costs but equally important, it also maintains and improves the health of the plants. This is particularly evident in the fact that properly watered plants tend to grow better quality vegetables or fruits. Let’s have a look at how to implement some of these changes.
Thirsty Plants Need Water
Just about all living creatures on earth, including plants, need water for survival. Plants take in water as well as crucial nutrients from the soil with their roots. This means that it is important for the soil to be appropriately damp, even deep down. When the roots absorb water, it is passed through the stem to be distributed throughout the plant. If plants are overwatered, they are unable to absorb the correct amount of nutrients.
Watering Techniques
There are several methods for ensuring that your garden does not unnecessarily lose water. For example, position plants on level ground instead of slopes to stop runoff. Use a rain gauge outdoors to help monitor daily precipitation. If it has already rained a lot, avoid watering the plants that day. Position the hose or sprinklers so that the water falls directly on the plants instead of the driveway. Early morning or after sunset are excellent times to water the plants, since it won’t evaporate as quickly.
Types of Irrigation
Apart from practicing good watering techniques, it is equally important to know how much water to distribute. Leaving a hose on for extended periods of time will only serve to submerge the plants closest to it, while dispersing little water to those that are further away. For smaller gardens, use a watering can to eliminate waste. Larger gardens can benefit from sprinklers placed just under the plants to ensure that they receive the right amount of water. A better system is drip irrigation, since it releases water slowly and efficiently, allowing it to seep deep into the soil.
Water Saving Extras
One of the major reasons that gardens lose water is due to evaporation. While this is a natural process that occurs everywhere, it can be minimized with a few steps. Mulch, or wood chips, scattered over the soil creates a protective cover to keep more water within the soil. Since wood is a very absorbent material, it can also help to retain water more easily. Creating a compost heap and adding the finished product to the soil around your plants is another step to preserve more moisture.
Weeds and Water Conservation
Many gardens that are left unweeded tend to lose plenty of water and nutrients from the soil to these invasive plants. By removing them, gardeners can help to conserve moisture levels in the soil. Before planting a garden, remove any visible weeds, making sure to remove the roots as well. Treat the soil with an herbicide or weed-killing agent and leave it for around two weeks before planting anything.
Popular Plant Watering Requirements
A good way to make sure that you are not using excess water in the garden is to know how much water certain plants require for healthy growth. As an example, tomato plants are very popular among vegetable gardeners. They only require watering every second or third day, with the soil moistened about an inch deep. On the other hand, cucumbers need damp soil all the time. Flower gardens can be similarly assessed. Pansies are hardy plants; they are adaptable to most soil types and don’t require much water. In contrast, marigolds need constantly wet soil to thrive.
Perfect Plants for Dry Landscapes
When choosing plants for your garden, opt for those that use water efficiently and are better adapted for the climate in your region. In general, plants such as rosemary or lavender require drier, sandy soil for best growth. Other beautiful flowers that can thrive without much water include lemon-scented verbena (vervain), distinctly blue cornflowers and black-eyed susans.
Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is a method of gardening with very effective water use techniques. It employs a number of principles to achieve this goal, revolving around the idea of an oasis. This key area typically contains the most amounts of moisture, coolness, shade and lush plants. Further away, it becomes dryer and warmer. Xeriscaping uses efficient irrigation techniques, such as drip systems. When implemented correctly, it can form a gorgeous garden with minimal water use.