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Gardens > WaterPrecious Water! According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) after two dry weeks in the summer up to 70% of water supplied in the evenings is said to be used in our gardens! So, how can we conserve water and make best use of water for times of shortages? Surprisingly, there are many ways we can all help to save natural resources and here are but a few: Install water butts and catch water from roofs and drainpipes, avoid overflowing by fitting special valves to cut the flow into the butt when it’s full. Plants prefer rain water, it helps them grow and tap water has chemicals added for safe human consumption. Rhododendrons and azaleas prefer acidic conditions and hard water doesn’t help so when possible always water them with rain water collected in your water butt. Recycle your water mild detergents found in washing up liquid and bathing soaps are not harmful to plants. Although you should avoid using softened water and dishwasher water because it isn’t safe to use.  Soak your plants every few days rather than a little every night because water needs to get to the main roots rather than the surface roots. Use watering can nozzles which are better than sprinkler systems as the flow of water with a nozzle is more direct and less wasteful. Spread mulch on bare soil after rain to stop the water evaporating. Buy ground cover plants which conserve moisture in the soil and deter weeds from growing. Weed regularly as this will stop the plants having to compete for water. There are other things we can consider like choosing plants that are less needy in times of drought for example some poppies and cornflowers rather than traditional bedding plants that suffer. Hanging baskets dry out remarkably fast so either reduce the amount you have or put them in a shady area to reduce the amount of evaporation. Quite a lot of our herbs come from Mediterranean countries which means they can often cope with the occasional dryness of the roots. So don’t over water them, take care though with culinary herbs such as coriander, dill and parsley as they will need to have a thorough watering when it is dry to make sure the leaf growth is not damaged. Leaving sprinkler systems on during the day is wasteful due to evaporation so late evening or early mornings are much better times to water. Ensure though that your lawn has a thorough soaking once or twice a week you’ll have better results than using a sprinkler every day. Trees, shrubs and hedges will benefit from being watered at the base and on their foliage in hot and dry weather of an evening. If you have to water during the day don’t water their foliage as the sun can scorch leaves. A few ideas, some of which cost money and others just time or thought. So why not choose one and lets all do what we can to help the environment and still have a lovely garden. First published: June 06 |
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