How does your garden grow? Does it wilt and whine for water in the hot summer months? On the first day of summer, put some summer-savvy strategies into practice and watch your garden thrive.
Your garden is a natural place to store water. Nature is a water-saving expert, in fact. Learn from her as you get water smart. How does she do it?
Nature has lots of leaves. These leaves make shade, and shade prevents plants from drying out. To implement this in your own garden, make sure that you have plenty of groundcover plants. These plants shelter sensitive plant roots and create a little microclimate underneath larger plants, preventing them from drying out. Larger leaves on trees provide dappled sunlight for the plants in your garden. They keep the temperature a little cooler, and they also prevent plants from drying out. Yes, plants need sun, but they also need moisture. Go for a balance of the two.
Build your soil with water in mind. Add mulch to the soil, since it helps the soil keep water. Hard, compacted soil means that water will flow off the soil and down the hill.
Wherever the bottom of the hill might be, this is where your water will end up. Structure your garden so that the water ends up sitting on the roots of your plants! Yes, this might mean that you have to move some soil, but it will be worth it. Plants like blueberries love the damp. Plant them in a place where the soil has a natural hollow, or make a hollow yourself.
Finally, you can store water in formal storage containers in your garden. The most common of these is the rain barrel. Make sure that your barrel is connected to your downspout, and place a heavy mesh over the top to prevent animals, children, and mosquitoes from getting in and out.
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