Ways to Save Water in Your Garden

If you prefer ceramic planters, have them treated to prevent them being porous to water. This will cut down immensely on the water usage as the water will not be able to be absorbed through the planter. Using water-absorbent crystals is another fantastic way to help with water loss in potted plants.

Mulch is not only a great way to ensure that your garden needs less watering by providing a layer of insulation, but if you take a little trouble when laying it down, you can also have a weed free garden. How? Simple. Lay a thick layer of wet newspapers or magazines over the weeds and the soil that needs covering. Then lay down at least an inch of mulch. The weeds have trouble growing through the layer of paper. Eventually the paper breaks down and builds up your soil. If you want an ever better system, you can lay down plastic weed matting under the wet newspapers, but this can prove costly. If the newspaper layer is thick enough, it will still work effectively.

Follow local regulations. No matter where you live, this is a must. In areas where watering your garden is banned, follow some of our handy hints on collecting water from around your home to use for your garden.

Plant more appropriate shrubs and lawns. More and more drought-resistant lawns are being developed. These can be an effective way to save on the water that your garden needs. Visit any nurseries in your area that specialize in local plants, which are generally better adapted and often are less needy than imports. You do not need to have a cactus garden to save water — just start planting smarter.