Ways to Conserve Water

[vermigiant]

To reduce water input in our gardens, we got to find ways to conserve water while still maintaining the moisture content of our crops.

To conserve water, I mulch my plants individually. I use loose straw or leaves and keep it 2-3 inches high. I observed that organic mulch can reduce water needs by half.

Mulches also do well in smothering the weeds so I got lesser problem with weed growth. These weeds, aside from giving me a headache on how to get rid of them, also steal and transpire moisture. so it reduces the evaporation of moisture directly from the soil.

Mulches also hold some water and increase humidity levels in the immediate plant surroundings.

When the weather is really very hot and dry, I have to water the mulch until it soaks 1-2 inches.

[fleurdelys]

Interesting tips vermigiant, thanks! There's also an existing thread with saving water tips you might want to check out as well!

[Edward12]

Shade and windbreaks can also be a great help in conserving moisture. Plants that wilt in very sunny areas can benefit from partial shade during the afternoon in summer. Small plants, in particular, should be protected. Air moving across a plant carries away the moisture on the leaf surfaces, causing the plant to need more water. In very windy areas, the roots often cannot keep up with leaf demands, and plants wilt. Temporary or permanent windbreaks can help tremendously.

I apply this to my garden and it is really very effective in conserving water.

[farmerbrie]

I save water by mulching my tomato plants with black plastic. I just water my toms when they are very dry and if I do, I water directly through the hole in the plastic where each plant grows so it goes directly to the roots.

I don't water the entire garden especially the areas in between the plants where weeds are just waiting for it so that they can grow

[amber]

I'm learning so much.. Thanks for posting!

[farmerbrie]

I usually check the hose because when they are not properly connected or there may be loose ends, water eventually finds these outlets and seeps though.

-->You have to check that new hose washers are installed in the female ends of your garden hoses. This is done to ensure a good seal with hose bibbs and that the attachments that you connect to your hose also have new washers to properly seal to the male end of your hoses.

[Edward12]

try xeriscaping. I'm planning to learn the basics and try if I can do it with minimal water usage Is that good luck to us?

[John S.]

Originally Posted by Edward12

try xeriscaping. I'm planning to learn the basics and try if I can do it with minimal water usage Is that good luck to us?

Xeriscaping? Relatively new for me though. But if it is a practice which can help conserve water, then I am for it. Gotta read up on it though

[sakura]

There's a thread on Xeriscaping you might want to check out: Xeriscaping?

[wrigglerman]

invest on a good rubber garden hose. those vinyl ones can easily become brittle and can leak.



when the irrigation system is on, check all sprinklers if they are targeting the area that they should be watering. Leaky sprinklers can cost you a thousand gallons of water per month.

[BeWaterWise Rep]

Now that we need to consider using water wisely in our gardens mulching is an excellent way to retain moisture in the soil. Another way to save water during a time of water scarcity is to install smart water sprinklers controllers and periodically check for leaks in the garden hose. Watering your garden before sunrise or after sunset also reduces evaporation. Another important factor is using the right amount of water for your plants. Bewaterwise.com has a calculator on the site which suggests how much water you need to use for your garden. Here’s the link to the calculator Watering Calculator

[leeza09]

really very informative, i am learning different easy methods to conserve water for my garden. thank you.
i was trying rain water harvesting.