By Beatrice Hawkins
With the dry weather continuing – be water-wise!
With water restrictions in place we all need to b e very careful how we use water in our gardens.
Here as just a few tips to help keep things going:
– Mulching is most important as it will help retain moisture for the plants to use.
– Recycle. A grey water system is helpful and fairly easy to implement even if it only is a hose connected to your washing machine overflow and put onto the lawn or a flower bed.
– A rain water tank for garden use is a great idea and is on my wish list.
– Check all your hose fittings and taps and washers and replace any that may be leaking. Even a small leak can waste as much as 2,000 litres a month.
– Timing is essential. Watering early morning and late evening minimises the amount of water lost to evaporation.
– Choose your plants with water needs in mind. Natives generally require less water than exotics.
– Only water your lawn as it needs it. While a nice green lawn is certainly a pleasing back drop to a colourful garden, it generally requires quite a lot of water to keep it that way. A deep watering is preferable to frequent light waterings as it encourages deeper roots and produces a more heat-resistant lawn.
– Lastly, put your mower blades up a notch, don’t cut too short. I have found using a mulching mower is a good idea and saves having to dispose of lawn clippings. The fine clippings it produces protects the lawn and conserves moisture, just as mulching your garden does.
*This is an old article that we’ve digitised so our readers have access to our full catalogue.
