[Gardening] Drought Tolerent Garden Tips
The majority of us around the nation are experiencing a water dry spell as a result of limits rains this year. In this sort of weather you can still expand a successful yard. Water devoted to landscape could usually be decreased by 20 to 40 percent because over sprinkling is very typical. Steadily reduce the amount of water applied over a couple of weeks – offering plants, grass and plants time to readjust.
Water restrictions and conservation should be taken into consideration when deciding on starting an edible home garden. If local water allocation allows for an edible garden, homeowners can grow fruits and vegetables in their backyard using water-wise practices.
Water-saving Edible Garden Tips:
- Plant an appropriate size garden for your household
- Plant shorter season crops and drought resistant varieties
- Know critical watering periods, for example transplanting and fruit development
- Apply a 3” to 4” layer of mulch
- Compost adds nutrients to soil and can produce higher yields
- Remove weeds, which compete for water resources
- Install a water efficient drip irrigation system
A lawn is almost always the single largest user of water in the home landscape. Many gardens have large expanses of turf that are never used but require considerable time, effort and resources to maintain. Use turf only when it serves a purpose, such as play or entertainment areas.
Water-saving Lawn Tips:
- Select water efficient varieties suited for your local climate
- Replace nonessential turf with ground covers, mulches, decks and walkways
- Adjust irrigation schedule monthly – to reflect seasonal changes
- Water at night, ideally between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., this reduces evaporation and wind will not be strong enough to interfere with sprinkler patterns
- Mow lawns higher during very warm weather
- Helps reduce growth rate
- Protects lawn from sunburn
- Promotes deeper root growth
- Shades soil, reduces weeds
Do not introduce new plants to your landscape during a severe drought. Even California native plants aren’t drought-resistant until they become well established. When water restrictions allow for new plants to be introduced into your landscape, select drought tolerant varieties appropriate for your climate zone. Introduce new plants during the fall, allowing them to become established by winter rain.
Water-saving Plant Tips:
- Remove plants in crowded beds or low-priority plants competing for soil moisture
- Mulch, mulch, mulch!Avoid heavy pruning
- 3 to 4″ layer reduces water evaporation and weeds
- Protects roots from heat
- Reduces weeds who compete for water
- Do not overuse fertilizers, which increase growth and water demands
- Infrequent deep watering encourages deeper root growth, and results in plants with greater drought tolerance
- Use a drip irrigation system, grouping plants with similar water needs together on one drip irrigation line
For more information visit University of California
Image Source: Andrea
