Garden Tips for Saving Water

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Disclaimer: This is a contributed post.

When Jakob, a home improvement blogger for Networx.com, offered to contribute a post about saving water in the garden, I instantly jumped at the opportunity to feature his piece! Our garden is starting to bloom, and I’m always looking for helpful tips to conserve water and energy, while still helping our plants flourish. I’m still a beginner gardener, so posts like Jakob’s are always helpful for newbies like me! :)

 

garden tips for saving water

For those of us that have vegetable gardens or even a simple front yard with a few flowers around the perimeter, water is a key ingredient for a happy and successful summer. It keeps the plants we’re growing green and lush and they produce well.

At the same time, it’s important to consider the fact that although it rains once in a while there isn’t an endless supply of water to pour into the landscape. The reason is that we’re using water resources faster than they replenish naturally.

This is especially true in certain regions of the country that have been experiencing drought like conditions in recent years.

That’s why when it comes to the yard and garden, where water is used more frequently over the warmer season, it’s important to find ways to simultaneously meet our needs and conserve.

The following are some water saving tips that can be of use right now:

Delivery:

One of the ways to cut down on water usage is to give plants the minimum amount to make it through the day and not more. For example, plants don’t need to be drenched to be fed well. They just need a bit of water around their trunks where it can seep down and reach roots easily.

That being the case, the best way to deliver water to plants is with something that has a straight controllable and easily maneuverable stream. A watering can is the perfect vessel for this because unlike a hose which shoots water with force and dumps it on undesirable vegetation, watering cans allow gardeners to hit the roots with pretty good aim.

Even the spray setting on a hose can waste too much water, something that rarely happens with a watering can.

Timing:

After you’ve solved the delivery dilemma, knowing when to water is the next step. For instance, you wouldn’t want to water the garden in the middle of the day when the sun is the strongest.

The best time to feed plants, especially those in direct sunlight, is in the morning. Doing so gives water a chance to reach roots without having to compete with the sun high above drying it up. Watering in the morning should give plants the strength they need to make it through the rest of the day.

Plant Species:

Sometimes the amount of water we use in the yard depends greatly on the plant species because some rely on more and some on less. One of the areas this is especially true is with lawns.

Grass has many varieties and if the one in your yard needs to be fed more often, consider reseeding with a different variety that has better resilience.

Alternatively, uprooting parts of the lawn and replacing it with low water plants will aide in the push to conserve because many of these species may only require feeding once a week or less.

Reuse water:

One of the best ways to conserve water is to reuse it from wherever possible around the home. Some examples include:

  • Rain that filled up a container on the deck
  • Leftover tea
  • Boiled water
  • Old water from a fish bowl or pet’s water bowl
  • Initial shower water before it’s reached the desired temperature

However little it may be and wherever it may be from, reusing water in the garden is a great substitute for turning on the tap.

Disclaimer: This is a contributed post.

Jakob Barry is a home improvement journalist for Networx.com. He writes about eco-friendly topics for pros across the U.S. like Jacksonville, FL, plumbers and plumbing contractors in Los Angeles, CA. 

Sarah UmmYousef

Sarah UmmYousef is a former school teacher turned stay-at-home wife and mama with a passion for all things simple, natural, and homemade. She loves the natural world, and believes the solutions to many of the world’s ailments lie in nature. Her blog, , began as a way to document her family’s journey to a greener home, but has since become a thriving community and resource for those wishing to take small steps towards a more eco-friendly, natural and sustainable lifestyle. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

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