Summer Water-Conserving Tips for Gardeners

Gardener’s love springtime because it’s the first chance they get to see their plants bloom after the harsh winter months. But the joys of springtime are short-lived, and it isn’t long before those summer months with their oppressive heat waves come bearing down on gardens everywhere. It’s the summertime that truly tests a gardener’s mettle, as more work is involved and costs for supplies can skyrocket. This is certainly the case with water.

Not much can grow without a steady water supply, and gardeners oftentimes use much more of it to keep parched plants healthy when that summer heat rolls in. This can be murder on a person’s water bill, but the good news is it doesn’t have to be. Not only can conserving water on gardening save a bit of cash on the monthly utility bill; those who adhere to the below can be confident in the notion they are doing their part to help the environment.

Use the right tools

There are plenty of old-school garden tenders out there who frown on modern apparatuses that offer supposed high-tech convenience. Even “fancy” hose attachments can seem like a needless expense. Yes, a good old-fashioned garden hose is all many a gardener needs. The problem is that the average garden hose is a highly inefficient and wasteful way to water a garden.

With a hose, much water is lost to mist, evaporation and runoff. The cure for this is a soaker hose or even (gasp) a sprinkler wand.

Water early

If regulations permit, it’s best to water a garden early in the morning in order to reduce evaporation. By watering before 6 AM on a regular basis, this will cut down on the overall amount of water a garden requires.

Embrace mulch

Mulch is a great way to help plants retain moisture during those harsh summer months. By adding a single layer around the plants, they should be able to remain healthier longer and with less watering. The pros recommend being generous with the mulch and adding a layer of 4-5 inches around each plant while leaving an open space near the base of the plant so as not to stifle the bulb.

Maintain sprinkler systems

Modern sprinkler systems come with rain sensors that allow the system to shut off automatically when it rains. Those with an sprinkler system near their garden will want to ensure this feature is enabled. Also, it’s important to periodically check the alignment of sprinkler heads to ensure they are watering only the landscape and not sidewalks or driveways.

Avoid fertilizer

It’s best to do all the fertilizing in the springtime, as doing so in the hot and dry summer months can deprive a garden of moisture. Those who do find themselves in the position of needing to feed their gardens during the summer should do so with a slow-release fertilizer.

These are just a few tips that should help even the most constant of gardeners cut down their water bill during the summer months. And the best part is that each of the above tips can be implemented without much adjustment of the routine of the gardener in question.

NSU Newsroom

SharkBytes

Horizons

Other NSU News Sources

News Releases Archive

Contact

SharkBytes Archives

SharkBytes Categories

Contact

Summer Water-Conserving Tips for Gardeners