Easy Ways to Save Water in Your Garden

Planning a garden that doesn't require heavy water usage is pretty easy. You’ll need to have some basic gardening tools and materials, though.

Start planning your water-saving garden with options like:

• Soaker hose: Slowly drips water at a low pressure. Keeps plants, shrubs and trees evenly watered.
• Rain barrel: In dryer climates, a rain barrel is a must-have .. It captures and store rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be wasted due to runoff.
• Water wand: The right water wand can take the hassle out of hydrating your plants. Choose a water wand with a variety of settings to target water directly where you need it. Wands with a fine mist setting are a great choice for seedlings. A shower setting is ideal for mature plants.
• Water-saving hose nozzle: This handy garden tool allows more efficient water consumption with less waste. It’s built for pressure compensation and flow regulation for increased water savings.
• Tree watering bag: For newly planted trees, a tree watering bag is a reliable watering system that can reduce your water usage. These durable bags wrap around your tree. Each bag slowly disperses water to the roots over a watering time of five to nine hours. Simply fill the bag with water, and it’s ready to use.

Prep your garden for water conservation by keeping it well maintained. Clear out weeds before planting flowers. Weeds will compete with your plants for moisture and nutrients. To improve soil moisture, add a layer of organic matter like mulch, compost or straw. Most importantly, choose the right plant for your climate and soil. The right plant in the right place will tolerate periods of drought.

Tip: Use our mulch calculator to determine how much product you’ll need for your lawn size.

Drought tolerant landscaping involves planting specific drought resistant plants, shrubs and flowers that can thrive with minimal water. Common examples of drought tolerant plants include aloe, cactus and geraniums. Most drought-tolerant plants are native to the local region and climate. They require little maintenance and watering. They generally have a deep root zone. Even when the rain stops, these resilient native plants can access moisture deep in the ground. They can and keep growing strong all season long.

Local Cooperative Extension Services and garden clubs are resources for information on drought-resistant and native plants.

When selecting native plants requiring little irrigation, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Choose drought resistant plants in a variety of colors and textures that will keep your garden looking fresh and appealing throughout the year.
• Plant trees and shrubs in fall or early spring to give the roots time to get established before warm weather.

An irrigation system offers consistent, regularly scheduled water delivery to your garden or lawn. Irrigation is especially important in the hot spring and summer months when the sun’s intense heat can dry out soil and damage your lawn. Not only will an irrigation system help save water, but it can also:

• Lower your monthly water bill
• Keep your lawn and garden healthy and thriving
• Prevent uneven watering
• Be scheduled to water your lawn at a certain time of day
• Promote healthy plant and tree growth
• Take the hassle out of manual watering

Tip: If conserving water is at the top of your list, look for irrigation controllers featuring the WaterSense label. These items are built to reduce overwatering and water usage.

Help plants thrive by creating a water-smart container garden. Containers offer many advantages compared to conventional gardens grown in the ground:

• They’re highly adaptable to a variety of plants.
• Ideal for limited spaces, they’re also a great option for gardeners with limited mobility.
• They allow you to garden from a porch, patio or balcony.
• The potting mix used for potted plants is likely higher in nutrients than typical garden soil. These nutrients promote stronger plant growth.

Water-smart garden containers are available in clay, plastic, wood and metal. A self-watering planter takes the guesswork out of watering.

Think about the size and weight of the pots you select. You’ll need smaller, lighter ones if you plan to move your plants. For example, you might want to put them inside or in a greenhouse when it gets cold. Many attractive lightweight garden pots are available to make moving plants easier. Plant caddies are a handy way to move planters from place to place.

A plan will help you save the most water in a container garden.

If you want to use containers in your garden think about where to put them. Decide on a layout before you start planting.

When it comes to saving water, what the containers are made of matters.

If your area is prone to hot temperatures, wood and plastic pots will save water more easily than clay pots. Water is lost easily through the permeable clay of terra cotta pots. Finally, choose high quality potting mix that's made for the type of plants you're putting in the garden.