Instead of watering your garden using a hose or sprinkler system why not try one of these alternative eco-friendly methods? Not only will you be keeping your plants fully hydrated but you will also be doing your bit for the environment.
Alternative watering methods
Water Butts
Water butts collect rainwater that can be used to water your garden during dry spells. A water butt will hold a large amount of rainwater and can be kept out of sight in your garden. If you are on a tight budget you can use buckets and other items such as ice-cream tubs to collect rainwater as well. Watering your garden with this water is fantastic for both your garden and the environment!
Brown Water
Brown water is bath water or washing up water, in other words used water from your home. Brown water can be used on any part of your garden that is inedible. It shouldn’t be used on vegetable patches, herb gardens or fruit trees. Using brown water is incredibly good for the environment as large amounts of water used during a bath are being instantly re-used. If you use an environmentally friendly form of washing up liquid this will be better for your garden than a chemical mainstream type.
Use Mulch
Mulch retains more water than soil alone. Fill your flower beds with mulch to prevent water draining out of your soil.
Drip irrigation
A drip irrigation system can be set up throughout your flower beds or around your greenhouse to give your plants the optimum amount of water throughout the day. Irrigation systems water your plants at the base which is exactly where a plant should receive water so that it is quickly absorbed by the roots. Drip irrigation is the most efficient way of watering your garden with the least amount of water wasted. The only downside to this type of watering is that it can be expensive to set up and if you have a large garden pretty impractical.
Hoses and Sprinklers
If you do choose to use a sprinkler or hose system to water your garden, please make sure you do so sparingly. Water your garden either first thing or last thing at night not during the day when a lot of the water will be lost through evaporation. Do not keep your sprinkler on for any longer than required as excess water will simply run off of your lawn and be wasted.
Vicki Copp is a writer for Jacks Garden Store. She offers gardening advice and tips which you can read at Jacks Blog You will also find a great range of gardening products including garden sheds, greenhouses, summerhouses and garden arches at Jacks Garden Store.
Tags: environment, saving water, watering a garden
This is true for most people. Most people want to be eco-friendly but for the most part at least currently sometimes going green is not financially a good idea.
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Watering Your New Garden — Environmentally Friendly Techniques-
New Gardener was a wonderful read. You really out done yourself! I’m so new to this stuff, you make it so newbie like myself can easly wrap their heads around it, thanks!