Every gardener knows how essential reliable water is to their plants. But most gardeners probably don’t know how important it is to save water in the garden. First, it helps to save money if you’re on a metre. Secondly, it leaves you with enough water for the rest of your household, especially if you have a large garden landscape. Saving water in your garden doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming, as it requires simple changes in habits. Here are some ways you can minimise wasting water in your garden.
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Prune your garden
Pruning results in the immediate reduction of plant size due to tissue removal. Many experts recognise this as an effective water-saving method to reduce soil water consumption. Pruning can also relieve deep soil drying while improving a plant’s water use efficiency. But it’s important to invest in the right pruning tools. So next time you go shopping for garden tools or buy garden machinery, don’t forget to add a pair of good pruners.
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Tune-up your irrigation system the right way
The more accurately you apply water irrigation, the less water you’ll need to keep your plants healthy. Many people align their irrigation spray heads the wrong way and waste water by spraying them on driveways, sidewalks, or even into the street. To avoid this, check your spray head and adjust the spray angle. If your spray head does not have an adjustable angle of spray, then you may want to consider changing it.
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Look after your soil by preventing moisture loss
You can reduce how much water your garden needs simply by looking after your soil. For example, you can add organic matter to your garden soil, making it easier to retain soil moisture for longer. You can also add water-retention granules to your compost or directly to the soil to improve its ability to hold water for longer periods. You can also consider mulching the surface of your soil to prevent moisture loss.
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Install an automatic rain shut-off device
You can also install an automatic rain shut-off device on your irrigation system to prevent excess water usage. This inexpensive device is designed to cut off the water supply when a specific amount of rain has fallen on your garden. This way, you can avoid your lawn or garden receiving more water than it needs and save some water.
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Use harvested water
Your garden does not always need fresh water to keep it moist, not when you can harvest water through different means at home. For example, you can install a water tank or container to collect rainwater for your garden. You can also save your cooking water for your garden instead of pouring it down the sink. Water from boiled vegetables contains essential nutrients your plant will need. You can also put a bucket or two at the bottom of your shower while your bath water heats, collect the water and save it for your garden. Do you often clean your fish tank? Use its phosphorus and nitrogen-rich content for your garden.
