Simple Ways to Save Water in the Garden

When a hot summer is on its way, the last thing you want to worry about is increasing the California drought by consuming too much water in your garden. These tips help you save without sacrificing your luscious landscaping.

Pick an Appropriate Watering System

You already know that just running a hose all over your yard is not a particularly effective way to water your garden or minimize your water consumption. There are many options for sprinkling systems to water plants most efficiently. The standard sprinkling system you probably have in your mind involves heads that sit underground until they are turned on manually or by a timer. They can spray in one direction or many, depending on the system. You might also consider drip irrigation, which runs a slow trickle of water through tiny hoses with holes. This saturates the soil with water without spraying over sensitive greenery.

Set the Sprinkler Timing Correctly

If only sprinkler systems were so efficient that they could tell what your landscape needs for watering without you having to figure it out on your own. The latest smart technology for sprinklers does have this capability, using sensors to determine when a lawn or garden really needs watering. For traditional systems, you have to set a schedule that waters each zone correctly. Too much water is wasteful and can also kill your plants. Be sure to water in the early morning or later in the evening, to minimize water lost through evaporation.

Select Drought-Friendly Native Flora

Although everyone wants to have an awesome garden that looks like no other, choosing really exotic plant life does make gardening that much more difficult. Plants are easy to grow and maintain if you go for species that occur naturally in the area. Take it a step further with specific types of plants called succulents, which keep water inside. These plants not only require less water; they also can thrive in soil that does not need as much watering either. The result is a beautiful, flowering garden that calls for much less daily maintenance, and very little water overall.

Refresh Soil

Every spring, you should make a plan to refresh the soil in your garden. Raised beds and pots make this fairly easy to accomplish, but you should also do it with ground-level garden beds. Rich soil that needs less water requires organic matter, which is easy to put in. Till the soil and mix in some fresh, fertile soil appropriate for the types of plants you intend to put in. Add a layer of mulch on top to lock in the water and slow the process of evaporation.
This year, your garden could be the most beautiful it has ever been, and you do not have to worry about breaking the drought guidelines to achieve it. Just make a wise choice about your sprinkling system, its timing and the plants you select for your landscape. You will save time and water for the advance planning. For more information, contact Ace Plumbing, the plumber Sacramento households rely on every year.