Landscaping gardens to conserve water not only saves a precious resource, it also saves money.
Use smart watering techniques plus mulch to create a water-wise landscape.
Fortunately, your landscape doesnt have to give up the ghost during dry weather.
Learn to Water Wisely
Conventional overhead sprinklers waste half the water they send shooting skyward.
It simply evaporates before reaching your plantsbad news for the plants and your water bill.
Stretch a soaker along perennial plantings or snake it among shrubs and trees.
Soaker hoses are especially easy to use along the rows of a vegetable garden.
Fill the bottles with water and let it soak in slowly.
Thats because deep watering encourages deep, drought-resistant roots.
To determine if youve watered enough, dig a shallow hole and check the soil.
It should be wet to a depth of about 6 or 8 inches.
Water-Saving Soil Improvements
Mulch helps keep moisture where you want itnear plant roots.
Organic materials like shredded bark, chopped leaves,compost, and salt hay make ideal mulches.
Otherwise, mulch can be an invitation to plant-invading rot and pests.
For unplanted areas,crushed gravel or pea gravelmakes an attractive mulch.
Digging organic matter into the soil is one of the best ways to make your landscape more drought resistant.
Work organic matter into the soil every time you plant.
The deeper the better, to encourage plants to grow deep, drought-resistant roots.
Spreading organic matter as mulch helps, too.
Earthworms and other soil-dwelling organisms carry it down into the soil for you.
Also, dont forget to make use of free wateranother great tool in the drought-fighters arsenal.
Specially made diverters are another option.
Use them to direct water that flows out of down spouts directly onto garden beds.
Gray water is another option for hand watering.
Your thirsty plants will thank you!
