Often you don’t appreciate something, until it’s gone! That can really be true with water. Taken for granted when it is plentiful, it’s importance is truly appreciated in the garden, once it becomes scarce. If you find yourself in a drought, there are some things you can do to help conserve water and to make the best use of what you have.

If you have not already mulched your plants, do it! Mulch will help limit the amount of water, that evaporates from the soil. While organic mulches, such as grass clippings, or wood chips, are preferable, since they add organic matter to the soil, plastic mulches are useful, in limiting evaporation from the soil. They can be laid between rows in the vegetable garden and will help to limit moisture loss, however, they also will limit infiltration. Place your water where it will do the most good.

Sprinklers are very inefficient, for getting water to the roots, of your plants. Much of the water lands on the leaves and evaporates, before reaching the ground. A slow, gentle watering, at the base of the plants, allowing the water to soak into the soil, will be most efficient. Water those plants that need it most. Newly planted trees, shrubs and flowers with limited roots systems, will most likely suffer first, from drought conditions. Give these plants priority, if water is scarce. Well established plants, especially those native to the area, are more likely to withstand the drought conditions, with limited damage.Preferably, try to water your plants in the early morning, before the heat of the day. This limits evaporation and supplies plants with needed moisture, to make it through the hot, sunny day.

Consider using drip, or trickle irrigation systems. Many inexpensive, easy to install systems are available, that provide small amounts of water to the base of the individual plants. These systems place the water where it is needed most, rather than applying it across the whole garden. Check with your local garden centre.

Collect water from the downspouts of your roof gutters, when it rains. Roofs can collect really significant amounts of rainwater. Collecting this runoff, into a barrel, or tank, can help limit the use of city, or well water, during the dry spells. In more severe conditions, or where the city water is rationed, there are other methods available, to ensure your garden gets the water it needs. These include the use of bath water and even water from the kitchen sink. In fact, the soap in the dirty water is known to help, with things like pest control.If you happen to live in an area, where water is often scarce, try to create a feature garden of hardier plants, that don’t need much water at all. Use plants like succulents, cacti, cicads and other desert plants.

 For more articles and advice on gardening topics, visit Sally’s Gardening site http://www.dersalsites.com/gardening/  
 

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