It’s the life source for all living things and a precious resource, so here are nine ways to conserve water in the garden
Wandering around the garden at dusk, hose in one hand and glass of wine in the other, admiring the roses; or maybe at sunrise with the watering can, a cup of tea and dew on the raspberries. That’s the dream. The reality is often so different – the weather’s wrong, you’ve not enough time, the sprinkler is easier. But with water becoming an ever-more valuable and expensive resource, it pays to use less.
1 What to use
Electronic irrigation systems with timers and weather sensors can be expensive and complicated to use but they do save water if they direct the tiny jets of water to the base of the plants, rather than arcing up in the air before wetting the soil. As with soak hoses, this minimises evaporation and ensures most of the expended water is used by the plant. A sprinkler is only acceptable if its range only covers areas of the garden that need water, such as the vegetable bed – and not the drive, path, fences and the like. However, a fine shower head with an off-on hand control is more efficient for watering specific plants. A watering can is labour-intensive but thrifty on water, while one with a spray nozzle is great for the gentle watering of seed beds without washing seeds away.
2 The time is right
Early in the day is the best hour to water as it gives moisture time to soak into the soil before the heat evaporates it. This also allows any water on the foliage to dry before the day cools, when wet leaves can promote fungal diseases. Also, mornings tend to be less windy – and watering in the wind is a fool’s game as most of the moisture will be swept away before it hits the dirt, let alone soaks in. For similar reasons, watering in the heat of day is to be avoided.
3 Water, water everywhere
As a rule, it is better to water less often and longer and deeper, letting the moisture soak in – the deeper the water, the slower it will evaporate. However, seedlings, plants in pots, smaller plants such as vegetables and anything newly planted need moisture more regularly, sometimes as often as once a day – depending on temperatures, wind, and type of soil. Heavier clay soils retain moisture much more than light sandy soils.
4 Common interests
To group plants with similar water requirements is common sense, but surprisingly infrequently heeded. If you don’t know what your plants like, look them up on the internet. You may be surprised just how many of our popular garden annuals, perennials, climbers and shrubs are drought-tolerant or damp averse. Pick them. Once trees become established their tolerance for drought increases. The flavour of apricots and plums, in particular, is improved if not over-watered, while apples may fail to get very large if there is a lack of it.
5 Much mulch
In the gospel of gardening, organic mulching holds a special place with its trinity of values. It suppresses weeds, provides nutrients to soil and, not least, it helps soil retain moisture through shielding it from the sun and warm air. By its breaking down and adding organic matter to the soil, water retention is improved – this is especially true with sandy soils. The availability of mulches varies from region to region but include pea straw, lucerne, pine bark, wood chips, grass clippings, compost and leaves. Spread it to between 5cm and 10cm thick, and avoid pressing it up against trunks. Plants arranged close together can have a similar effect to mulching by shielding the soil from the drying effects of the sun.
6 Give a dam
It can help with young plants in hot weather to build a small dirt dam encircling the plant, or a shallow trench down a row of plants, particularly among vegetables which are generally more water needy. This will encourage any water to pool naturally – and thus soak in over a longer period. A Mexican version of this is dubbed waffle gardening, whereby the entire vegetable patch is divided into a grid of squares, each surrounded by raised mounds of dirt. Often a mulch of gravel is applied to reduce evaporation.
7 Every drop counts
It may seem a mere drop in the ocean but emptying and rinsing tea and coffee pots – and even milk containers – onto the garden will be helping your plants – and avoiding that little bit extra organic sludge entering the water treatment facilities. Try a container of coriander, lettuce, impatiens by a shadier doorstep or thyme or rocket or poppies by a sunnier one, and see how they thrive with their daily cuppa. A bucket of water in the shower will also yield a surprising amount of water to be taken out and sloshed on a fruit tree. A bucket a day keeps the drought away.
Tip
Some plants need less water than others to grow, lavender, coneflowers, flax, California poppy and rosemary, to name a few.
8 Au fait with grey
Most easily done when a house is being built, a simple grey-water system takes water from showers, baths, basins and washing machines and stores it in its own tank ready for irrigation, preferably directly below ground to avoid the risk of exposure to any bacteria in it. Products are available now to neutralise greywater and minimise any potential effect constant use of it may have on plants and soil structure.
9 Rain, rain, don’t go away
All that rainwater collecting on our roofs and pouring into the stormwater system to be gone forever can also be easily saved and stored for use in the garden. A wide range of tanks is available, from modest to impressive, small to huge, in wood, plastic or corrugated steel, from modern to traditional designs. Larger ones may need to be professionally installed.
Words by: Mary Lovell-Smith
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