Watering plants this summer doesn’t have to waste water

In the heat of the summer, it’s hard to imagine what your garden must be feeling. Just imagine - It’s out there in the hot sun all day, burning and turning brown from the power of the scorching rays, with no chance of relief whatsoever. You want to help your lawn out, maybe give it a wee drink, but you want to be environmentally conscious as well. After all, every summer water usage doubles in certain parts of the country, and around 50% of it is wasted through runoff, evaporation and over-watering.

So, on one hand growing a vegetable garden is a great way to practice living sustainably. On the other side of the argument, using a ton of water to keep your garden healthy, (and maybe just to keep your grass green) could be considered wasteful and an unnecessary use of resources. A great solution to this dilemma is to have your water (and your garden) working smart, not hard. The following are some tips to keep your garden’s thirst quenched and your water usage low:

• Pick plants that are indigenous to your region. It’s probably not an efficient use of resources to plant hydrangeas in the middle of the desert, so choose plants that do well in your particular climate.

• Get rid of your sprinklers! Sprinklers are considered to be an inefficient way to water your lawn and plants as they just sort of throw water up into the air, and you end up hoping it will water the area that you want, but it doesn’t really do an effective job.

• Water in the early morning or late evening. Watering in the middle of the day will burn your plants and cause a lot of water to be wasted. Pick a cooler time to refresh your garden, and you’ll end up using less water (and as a bonus, your plants will be healthier.)

• Use a drip irrigation system. A drip irrigation system can cut water usage by 33% or more. A grid system of hoses is buried 3to 4 inches deep, and the hoses have holes every 12 inches. Using the system will guarantee that your water is delivered to the roots of your plants (which is what needs the water!) in a direct, efficient manner. (It also means that your topsoil with its great nutrients won’t be displaced either.) If you aren’t ready to take the step of installing a drip irrigation system, try using a soaker hose instead. This hose works on the same premise as a drip irrigation system, but it lies on top of your grass. While not as good as using drip irrigation, it’s far better that a regular garden hose and it will also help reduce water usage and as a bonus, is also better for the plants themselves.

So, while there’s no need to watch your lawn and garden wither and die this summer, there’s also no need to waste water when hydrating it. Think about the plants you want and water your garden with an efficient watering system. Our water resources and your garden will thank you!