Image courtesy of Jessica Damiano, May 26, 2023 shows a soaker hose system installed in a stilt garden in Long Island, New York. Using soaker hoses or other drip irrigation methods instead of overhead sprinklers saves water and money, reduces waste, and helps protect plant health. (Jessica Damiano via AP)
Jessica Damiano (Associated Press)
I always watered my plants by hand until I installed flood hoses all over my vegetable bed this year, which has become a hassle over the years.
Standing outside with a garden hose was never a fun time in my opinion, but I was able to get the water right into the soil above the roots and make sure it was where it was needed. increase. This eliminates waste and greatly helps prevent diseases such as powdery mildew. It’s good for the plants, good for the environment, and good for your water bill.
Placing a flexible porous rubber or cloth soaking hose into the soil around the plant is also a preferred method of watering, as the water will seep slowly into the roots. Drip irrigation hoses (rigid tubes with emitter holes that drip and drain water) work as well.
There are many other easy ways to save water around your garden.
For example, watering in the morning allows the water to penetrate deeper into the soil before the sun gets too hot. If you wait until later in the day, a good portion of that water will evaporate from the soil surface before it does its job. Additionally, staying damp overnight creates the risk of mold, mildew, and fungal diseases.
It is important not only when to water, but also how to water. A simple daily spraying of the plant will provide little benefit to the roots. Some plants can grow over a foot into the soil. Instead, water less frequently but deeply.
And when the soil is really dry, it’s even more important to slow down, otherwise water will seep into the surface in the same way a perfectly dry kitchen sponge would have a hard time absorbing a spill. It will flow down without doing anything.
The water used to boil pasta, vegetables, and eggs can be reused instead of being flushed down the drain, as long as it’s not salted. You can also use dehumidifier water. Don’t waste it, don’t want it.
It is used to turn the downpipe to fill the rainwater tank and pour the captured water into the watering can. Alternatively, use an adapter to attach a garden hose or soaker hose to the spigot hole in the bottom of the barrel.
When planting plants in the garden, we usually consider what looks good on what and (hopefully) the sunlight requirements of each plant. Consider your water needs, too, so you don’t overwater drought-tolerant plants when trying to soothe thirsty water pigs nearby.
For the same reason, it is advisable to keep your lawn away from trees, shrubs, groundcovers, perennials and annuals when using an automatic sprinkler system. By the way, automatic sprinkler systems wet the foliage of plants in the spray path, making them susceptible to disease.
Even better, use native plants that are mostly drought tolerant. It will need regular watering for the first year or two, but once established, it can usually survive on rainwater alone, except perhaps during prolonged heat waves. To find plants native to your area, enter your zip code into the National Wildlife Federation’s (and Audubon Society’s) online database. website.
When planting in the garden, mix plenty of compost into the hole to improve water retention in sandy soil and to improve drainage in clay soil.
Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch around trees, shrubs, and plants to retain soil moisture, reduce surface evaporation, and control weeds. Wait until the soil warms up before mulching, and keep the material a few inches away from the stems and trunks.
When planting containers, look for potting mixtures that contain vermiculite, a moisturizing mineral. Adding soil moisture polymer granules such as SoilMoist can also reduce watering needs by up to 50%.
Simply rip a baby diaper (clean!) and mix the absorbent hydrogel with the potting mix, or place the unrolled diaper in the bottom of the container (plastic side down, with drainage holes). It can also be absorbed and retained. moisture. However, do not use these if your container contains succulents or other plants that require dry, well-drained soil.
If you have automatic sprinklers, set the timer early in the morning, preferably just before dawn. To avoid wasting rainy days, look for a timer with a rain sensor, or override that program manually.
Most lawns require about 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week, including rain, but you can’t know how much water your system will release until you test it. Place the tuna cans on the grass during the cycle and measure the water accumulation in the cans.
A rain gauge, which looks like a test tube with the readings marked on it, also reports the amount of rainfall.
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Jessica Damiano writes a regular gardening column for The Associated Press and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. Sign up here to receive weekly gardening tips and advice.
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