The flowers, tubers, and vegetables in your garden need water to survive and reproduce. But this natural resource can be deficient during summer or drought. This may prompt you to look for ways to save the little water you have, but still ensure that your plants are supplied sufficiently. Here’s what you should do to minimise the use of water during summer.

Water Early in the Morning and Later in the Evening

You don’t want most of the water you supply your plants to go up in the air. As temperatures are higher during the day, it speeds up the process of evaporation. Be sure to water your garden when the soil is cool, to ensure that the plants sufficiently supply themselves. Ensure that you also water selectively. This best done by hand, not a sprinkler.

Remove All Weeds

Get rid of weeds to reduce the competition for soil moisture. Hoe them off the ground and leave them on the surface of the soil to dry. Be sure to dig deep and remove the roots for all perennial weeds, such as ground elder; otherwise, it won’t take long before they reappear. If you’re unable to dig off the weeds, you can use other natural methods for weeding, and they include layering mulch and using salt water. One thing to note, though, is that mulch doesn’t kill the weeds, but it only slows down their growth. Another natural yet effective weed control method is using cornmeal, which prevents many weeds from sprouting.

Lay Mulches Regularly

Bare soil is prone to high evaporation, especially during the summer. You want to control this process and save your garden some water by laying mulch regularly. You learnt in the above section that you may use the weeds you dig on the ground to protect your soil from the scorching sun. Pebbles, grass clippings, bark chippings, and landscape fabrics are good mulches, as well. Be sure to use a specialised gardening shoe to avoid compacting the soil, and ensure that they are cleaned off easily. The best mulch, though, is compost and any other organic matter, mainly because they trap and allow water to drain through quickly, but evenly. Additionally, they supply your plants with the right nutrients.

Collect Rainwater

Are you looking for ways to water your garden sufficiently while not breaking the bank to pay all of your bills when it comes to the end of the month? Make good use of rainwater. Collect the water off your roof or dig some small holes in the ground to catch the water. Then, you may store this water into barrels, or any other container, for use on your vegetables and flowers.

The Bottom Line

When watering your garden, make sure that the water goes down into the soil to reach deep roots and away from hot earth on the surface. Other tips to save water during the dry seasons, include getting rid of the plants with droopy leaves, such as squash and cucumber, and using clay-rich soil, which can hold water for days.