Water-saving tips for your garden
Drought-stricken California isn鈥檛 alone: Nearly every region of the United States has recently experienced water shortages, and at least 36 states anticipate serious shortages, even under nondrought conditions.
The average US family of four has a 400-gallon-a-day water habit, with about 35 percent of that used outdoors. The water-guzzling champion is the lawn, but flower beds and food gardens are less demanding only because they are smaller.聽
Conserving water in the yard begins with shrinking the lawn, then with using water-sipping plants. While most dry-condition Southwestern species don鈥檛 thrive in my Vermont garden, I still can be water-smart using New England natives. These trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, and flowers are adapted to my soil and climate and will survive with normal rainfall. Most nurseries promote natives and xerophytes (drought-resistant plants).
The cardinal rule: Don鈥檛 water if it鈥檚 not needed. First, check soil moisture with your finger. If the soil feels damp, like a wrung-out sponge, about one inch down, there鈥檚 no need to water. And, whether using natives or nonnatives, follow the 鈥渞ight plant, right place鈥� rule. Locating water-swigging willows in dry spots is, as the phrase goes, like spitting in the wind. Other water wise tips?
鈥dd trees and shrubs to create relief from sun and wind.
鈥lant in beds to make irrigation efficient, but avoid raised beds, which dry out quickly.聽
鈥rade beds to allow water to soak in rather than run off.
鈥roup plants with similar moisture needs.
鈥educe competition for water by weeding.
鈥dd compost and other organic matter to improve the moisture retention of the soil.
鈥ulch, mulch, mulch: Add several inches of organic material, such as straw, shredded leaves, or bark, to shade and cool the soil.聽
鈥lant new trees and shrubs in fall, when temperatures are cooler and rainfall is greater.
鈥educe fertilizing, especially in summer.
鈥emove annuals that have finished blooming.
鈥hoose nonbreeezy days to water, and water before 10 a.m.
鈥ater deeply 鈥� brief sprinkling encourages shallow roots.
鈥ater the base of plants, not the leaves.聽聽
The tips above apply to growing vegetables as well as ornamentals. Here鈥檚 some more advice for food gardeners:
鈥eep the soil pH in the 6.0-7.0 range.
鈥tart from seed whenever possible to encourage strong, deep root systems.
鈥lant early-maturing varieties.
鈥reate basins around individual plants to trap water.
鈥lant in blocks, rather than in rows.
鈥arvest vegetables as soon as they are ripe, and remove plants when they鈥檝e stopped producing.
Sprinklers are water-wasters; they鈥檙e only between 50 and 70 percent efficient. The types that emit large drops of water are better than those with misting spray heads, as less is lost through evaporation. Watering by hand can target individual plants, but few gardeners have the time or patience to water thoroughly that way.
Drip-irrigation systems that can be directed to individual plants limit evaporation and use far less water. They also involve a maze of tubing, emitters, pressure regulators, filters, and other fittings. They demand regular maintenance and often are costly.聽
An easier, cheaper alternative is a soaker hose, a porous rubber hose that oozes water. It鈥檚 simply laid on the soil surface, where it can remain all season (or it can be moved to different locations).聽
Soaker hoses aren鈥檛 perfect. They don鈥檛 work well on hills, and the maximum length for uniform soaking is 100 feet, so it鈥檚 best to buy them in 25- or 50-foot lengths. Experts recommend adding a timer and a pressure regulator.
You can make a soaker hose by drilling holes along the length of a garden hose, then capping its end. Easier still is a gallon milk jug or bucket with small holes punched in its bottom set next to a single plant. (The tree water bag is a commercial variation on this slow-release theme, ideal for new plantings.)聽
Last, take advantage of 鈥渇ree鈥� water, beginning with rain. The runoff from a 1,000-square-foot roof is approximately 600 gallons for every inch of rainfall. (Make sure the catching container is covered to prevent breeding mosquitoes.)
While not recommended for vegetable gardens, grey water (household water from everything but toilets) can be used on ornamentals. Baths and kitchens require major replumbing to divert grey water, so most people settle for manually bailing tubs and catching shower water in a bucket. The water that would otherwise go down the drain as the water heats up for a bath or shower can be captured in a bucket and schlepped to the garden. If you can, avoid contaminating the water with soap or shampoo.
Recycling washing-machine water requires less replumbing but is more complicated than simply attaching a garden hose to your machine. Do-it-yourselfers should consult http://bit.ly/graygardenwater, as errors can lead to burning out the washer motor and other woes.聽
