5 Ways to Reduce Water Use in the Garden

How to Spend Less Time and Money Watering the Garden

Aug 28, 2009

Ways to reduce water use in the garden include mulching, plant selection and water harvesting.

A hot dry summer can turn watering the garden into a daily chore. However, good water use practices can reduce the chore and the water bill.

Use Lots of Mulch

One of the most effective ways to reduce water use in the garden is with a good layer of mulch. Heavily mulch plants at planting or at the beginning of the growing season. Three inches of mulch is not too thick, especially in sun-drenched areas.

In northern climates or high elevations where soil is slow to warm, it's better to hold off on the mulch until the soil warms up.

If mulch thins out over the season, add more. Many gardeners feel fated to watering two times a day, not knowing that a thick layer of mulch will put a stop to the practice.

Water Using a Soaker Hose or Drip Irrigation

Water using a soaker hose or drip irrigation system. Soaker hoses slowly weep water onto the surface of the soil. This allows the water to soak in deeply without running off.

The disadvantage of soaker hoses is that they need to be placed right next to the plant that needs irrigation because the water simply drips off the hose. Soaker hoses can be placed beneath the mulch layer.

Inexpensive irrigation line can be purchased from the hardware store or garden center. It consists of somewhat flexible black plastic tubing which can be connected to a garden hose.

The irrigation line is run throughout the garden. Smaller lines are added to the main line by punching a hole and then adding smaller tubing. At the end of the tubing, various attachments produce a drip or a spray.

The advantage of the irrigation line is that a new drip or spray line can be added easily. Both soaker and irrigation lines cut water use by concentrating water directly where it is needed.

Water Deeply

Water less frequently and water deeply. Using a soaker hose, irrigation hose, or even a slowly running hose, deeply water the garden. Spraying the surface quickly every day allows a lot of water to evaporate before it sinks deep into soil. It's not a bad idea to check how deeply water is soaking into the soil with your finger or a water meter.

Soils can become hydrophobic and actually repel water. This can be corrected with a soaker hose and good layer of mulch.

Choose Plants Wisely

Choose the right plants for the area. Planting a tropical plant in a desert area will lead to excessive water use. Local gardeners or garden centers can point out the plants that do well in particular parts of the country, as well as those adapted to full shade or full sun.

Harvest Rainwater, It's Free

Rainwater harvesting can reduce water use in the garden. The simplest method is to place a garbage can under the downspout of a rain gutter.

Another method is to create berms around individual plants or groups of plants to hold water in place so it can soak in deeply.

In many areas, water is no longer an expensive commodity. With a little forethought, reducing water use in the garden is easily achieved.

The copyright of the article 5 Ways to Reduce Water Use in the Garden in Desert/Water-wise Gardens is owned by Cassandra Truax. Permission to republish 5 Ways to Reduce Water Use in the Garden in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.