Water Saving Tips - 4 Ways to Conserve Water in Your Garden
1.
Use recycled water or collected rainwater.
This is the easiest tip to implement, because it only changes where you get the water rather than how you use it.
Rather than watering your garden with plain old drinking water, look for an alternate source.
The simplest option is using recycled water, if it's available in your area.
This is waste water that has gone through a complicated filtering process so that it is clean again.
You can use recycled water in a garden the same way you would use tap water.
Check with your municipal water district to learn about any recycled water programs they might have.
You can also install a rain water collecting system to use in your garden.
This might be as simple as a few buckets with mesh lids to keep out leaves and other debris.
If you need more water, you can use a hose to connect the drain pipes of your house to collection barrels.
Then you can use any rain water that falls on your roof and into your gutters to water your garden.
2.
Use mulch to cover bare soil.
This one is especially important in dry sunny areas like California.
If the bare dirt is constantly exposed to the sun, all the moisture evaporates back into the hydrological cycle before the plants' roots can take it up.
Putting a layer of mulch like pine straw or woodchips will create a protective layer between the soil and the sun.
The soil will hold moisture for much longer and it will take less water to keep your garden green and healthy.
3.
Grow native or drought-friendly plants.
There are plenty of beautiful plants that grow well even during a drought.
If water is in short supply, consider trying succulent plants.
In addition to the traditional aloes and cacti, there are flowering plants like kalanchoe or French lavender.
There is a wide variety of plants that are drought-tolerant so you can have a diverse garden that consumes less water.
Native plants are also a valuable tool for conserving water.
They are already adapted to thrive in your particular climate with your particular rainfall, so there is less need for extra watering to drive up your water consumption.
4.
Use a drip irrigation system.
Drip irrigation is a hose with small holes that runs along the ground at the base of your plants.
This is better than a sprinkler because it only waters the soil near the roots of the plants that need it.
Drip irrigation systems avoid wasting water on the leaves, the rest of the lawn, or the pavement.
Use recycled water or collected rainwater.
This is the easiest tip to implement, because it only changes where you get the water rather than how you use it.
Rather than watering your garden with plain old drinking water, look for an alternate source.
The simplest option is using recycled water, if it's available in your area.
This is waste water that has gone through a complicated filtering process so that it is clean again.
You can use recycled water in a garden the same way you would use tap water.
Check with your municipal water district to learn about any recycled water programs they might have.
You can also install a rain water collecting system to use in your garden.
This might be as simple as a few buckets with mesh lids to keep out leaves and other debris.
If you need more water, you can use a hose to connect the drain pipes of your house to collection barrels.
Then you can use any rain water that falls on your roof and into your gutters to water your garden.
2.
Use mulch to cover bare soil.
This one is especially important in dry sunny areas like California.
If the bare dirt is constantly exposed to the sun, all the moisture evaporates back into the hydrological cycle before the plants' roots can take it up.
Putting a layer of mulch like pine straw or woodchips will create a protective layer between the soil and the sun.
The soil will hold moisture for much longer and it will take less water to keep your garden green and healthy.
3.
Grow native or drought-friendly plants.
There are plenty of beautiful plants that grow well even during a drought.
If water is in short supply, consider trying succulent plants.
In addition to the traditional aloes and cacti, there are flowering plants like kalanchoe or French lavender.
There is a wide variety of plants that are drought-tolerant so you can have a diverse garden that consumes less water.
Native plants are also a valuable tool for conserving water.
They are already adapted to thrive in your particular climate with your particular rainfall, so there is less need for extra watering to drive up your water consumption.
4.
Use a drip irrigation system.
Drip irrigation is a hose with small holes that runs along the ground at the base of your plants.
This is better than a sprinkler because it only waters the soil near the roots of the plants that need it.
Drip irrigation systems avoid wasting water on the leaves, the rest of the lawn, or the pavement.
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