How To Save Water In The Garden?
The summer drought, which affects many regions, sometimes requires restrictions on watering lawns, flowers, and vegetable gardens. Here are some tips and tricks to save water in the garden and mitigate the effects of the drought.
Water efficiently
The first tip for saving water in the garden is to optimize the efficiency of watering. Indeed, under the heat of the sun, 60% of the water we use evaporates before even being absorbed by the plants.
That’s why the ideal time to water your garden is at dawn or dusk in summer. This helps reduce evaporation and leaf scorching from the sun. Effective watering means watering slowly so that the water does not run off and is well absorbed by the soil.
Collecting rainwater that runs off the roof is another well-known tip for more economical and ecological watering. Nowadays, there are tanks and water collectors of all sizes to take advantage of this free water.
Combating evaporation
To save water in the garden, it is also necessary to limit evaporation by all means available to the gardener.
Hoeing is an action that reduces the upward movement of water by capillarity and prevents evaporation, by creating a layer of loose soil a few centimeters thick. Not only is the water better retained in the soil, but rainwater also penetrates the ground more effectively.
Another effective action is mulching the soil using grass clippings or other plant debris (straw, ferns, wood chips, bark). A mulch layer about 5 cm thick helps keep the soil moist, moderates its temperature, and limits weeds.
The installation of windbreaks also helps save water, as wind increases the evaporation phenomenon. If your garden is not sheltered by a wall or a hedge, create a protective screen with slightly tall and drought-resistant plants such as lavender or boxwood, for example.
If you have a lawn, do not cut the grass too short, but leave it at a height of at least 6 to 8 cm: the roots will be protected from the sun and can retain water better.
Prefer low-maintenance plants
Another way to save water in the garden is to choose plants adapted to the local climate. If you live in an area where it rarely rains, prioritize species that can withstand drought.
Avoid planting grass on slopes where water drains quickly and choose a lawn that requires less watering.
Note: There are low-maintenance lawns made from a mix of grass and fescues that are hardy, water-efficient, and slow-growing.
To brighten up your garden with flowers, opt for water-efficient flowers like gazania: it requires no maintenance and very little watering! Another advantage: its colorful flowers do not burn in the sun, as gazania loves hot and sunny conditions.
