Avoid Conservation Crime! Learn The Best Ways To Conserve Water
During the year there will be dry spells. In order to keep your gardens in the best health you will at times need to do some watering. There are some great ways to keep your garden from getting thirsty without wasting water.
Why Save Water?
Clean water is becoming a precious resource that does need to be conserved. Consider very carefully before you turn the tap on and use clean mains water for your garden. Not only could this be costing you money in higher water bills but it could also be wasting water unnecessarily. Saving water and putting in place effective garden water systems is essential for any keen gardener.
Wasting water is seen by many as one of the big crimes against modern conservation. If you don’t want to be guilty of this offence then here are a few ways that you can conserve water and still keep your garden healthy and happy.
Check Before You Water
It is important to check the soil before you start watering. Just because it looks dry on the surface does not mean it does not contain moisture lower down. Before you whip out your garden hose, use your hand to gently push away the surface soil from around your plants. In most cases the soil will be slightly moist around 2 to 3 inches below the surface. This means you do not need to water. In dryer conditions you may find the soil is not moist 2 to 3 inches down; here it is a good idea to do some watering to support your plants.
It is also a good idea to check the weather forecast before you water. If rain is on the way then Mother Nature will provide for your plants so that you don’t have to use your own water supplies.
Timing
One of the best ways to make the most of your water is to time things right. In the summer months water evaporates very quickly in the heat of the day. To give your plants more chance to drink it is best to water first thing in the morning or late afternoon. Try to avoid watering in the evening though as this does not give the foliage a chance to dry off and this can encourage fungal diseases.
If you have any heat-sensitive plants then consider covering them with a shade cloth during the height of midday when the sun is at its hottest. This will also help to reduce evaporation in the soil around the plants and conserve water.
How Much Water?
It is important to look carefully at your garden and assess how much water each area will need. This will help to prevent you from overwatering. For example seeds and small seedlings do not have very deep roots. This means they only need a light, frequent watering to keep the top few inches of soil moist. However well-established plants will have deeper roots. You can water these less frequently but they will need a good water to ensure that the soil is moistened down to at least 5 inches below the surface. Don’t waterlog plants though as this will deprive the roots of oxygen and make it more difficult from them to absorb water.
Modern Garden Water Systems
There are many excellent modern garden water systems available now. These are much more advanced than the traditional fixed sprinkler systems and can help you conserve water. Spray wands can be easily moved around the garden to help prevent waterlogging. They are ideal for smaller gardens and can help you to keep a good general moisture level in your top soil without using too much water.
For those more well-established areas of the garden you might consider soaker hose garden water systems. These enable you to maintain a slow, gentle flow of water right into the soil in heavily planted sections of your garden. This directs water straight where it needs to go and avoids the necessity of spraying water all around with a regular hose.
Sally Dimmock is a writer who has a keen interest in conservation issues. She recommends investing in modern garden water systems that can keep your garden from getting thirsty without wasting water to help conserve the environment.