Staff Writer
I’d always watered my plants by hand, which over the years had grown tiring, until I placed soaker hoses across my vegetable gardens this year.
It wasn’t exactly my idea of fun to stand outdoors holding a garden hose, but it ensures that water is delivered precisely to the soil above roots, where it is required. This reduces waste and helps greatly in the fight against diseases like powdery mildew. That benefits the environment, the plants, and the water bill.
Another favored method of irrigation is to lay flexible, porous soaker hoses made of rubber or fabric on the soil surrounding plants. This allows water to slowly infiltrate over roots. Similar principles apply to drip irrigation hoses, which are rigid tubes with emitter holes that drip or stream water.
There are numerous other simple methods for conserving water in the garden.
When and how much to water: Applying water in the morning, for example, gives it time to soak deeply into the soil before the sun becomes too hot. If you wait until later in the day, a significant amount of the water will evaporate before performing its function from the soil surface. Later still, nocturnal moisture retention runs the risk of mold, mildew, and fungi-related disorders.
Both when and how to water are crucial. The roots of plants, which, depending on the species, may extend up to a foot into the soil, receive little to no benefit from a fast daily sprinkle. Instead, hydrate deeply and less frequently.
And it’s even more crucial to slow down when the soil is extremely dry because otherwise the water would run off without entering the surface, just like a kitchen sponge that is completely dry finds it difficult to absorb a spill.
Capture and reuse water – As long as the water hasn’t been salted, you can reuse the water from cooking pasta, veggies, and eggs rather than pouring it down the drain. Dehumidifier water can also be utilized. Use less and want less.
Use a downspout to fill a rain barrel, then fill watering cans with the water you saved. Alternatively, you can use an adapter to connect a garden or soaker hose to the barrel’s bottom spigot hole.
Some plants require more water than others; while designing a garden, we usually consider how each plant would look together and, ideally, how much sunlight it will need. When trying to quench the thirst of surrounding water hogs, take into account water needs as well to avoid overwatering drought-resistant plants.
If you use an automated sprinkler system, which, incidentally, wets the foliage of plants in the path of the spray and makes them prone to disease, it’s a good idea to keep lawns far from trees, shrubs, groundcovers, perennials, and annuals for the same reason.
Use native plants instead, the majority of which can withstand drought. They will require regular watering for the first year or two, but after that, once they have established, they can usually survive solely on rainfall, with the possible exception of extended heat waves.
Hold in moisture with mulch, compost, or even a diaper – When planting in the garden, mix substantial amounts of compost into the holes to enhance drainage in clay soil and boost the water-holding capacity of sandier soil.
Around trees, shrubs, and other plants, spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch to prevent weed growth, conserve soil moisture, and reduce surface evaporation. Before mulching, let the soil warm up first. Keep the mulch a few inches away from stems and trunks.
When growing in pots, search for a potting mixture that contains the mineral vermiculite. To cut watering requirements by as much as 50%, soil moisture polymer granules like SoilMoist can also be added.
You can even rip open a (clean!) baby diaper and mix the hydrogel absorbents with your potting mix, or you can just lay an unfolded diaper (plastic side down, with holes drilled for drainage) at the bottom of a container to absorb and hold moisture. If your container contains succulents or other plants that demand dry, permeable soil, don’t use any of these.
Consider the possibility of rain: If you’re using an automated sprinkler, set the timer for the early morning, preferably shortly before dawn. To prevent waste on rainy days, look for a timer with a rain sensor or manually override its programming.
You won’t know how much water your system produces unless you test it, but the average grass needs between one and one and a half inches of water each week, including from rain. Place a tuna fish can on the lawn for a cycle, then count the amount of water that collects inside the can.
A rain gauge, which resembles a test tube with measurements written on it, can provide information on rainfall totals.
