Ways to be water-wise
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Ron Filson
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Dig down or use a simple water moisture meter after your irrigation system runs to check its efficiency. Photo: Wikimedia
Ideally, in our winter wet, summer dry climate, you should only provide supplemental water during a few months in the summer and only if the plants look stressed. Exceptions are if you have turf lawns or food gardens. The goal is healthy plants throughout the year. Consider redesigning your garden with plants that thrive in the various microclimates in our area. That will help you to have a garden you can enjoy year-round.
Properly hydrated plants will maintain optimum health without wasting water and are one of the elements of a fire-smart landscape plan. The most straightforward test for your irrigation system efficiency is to wait a little while after watering an area, dig down a couple of inches, and note if the soil is damp. Another option is to purchase a moisture meter for the task. The same idea applies to potted plants. Please note that too dry soil can be very difficult to re-moisten. Likewise, water runoff on the ground or from your pots may indicate that your manual or automated system is overwatering the area. A little investigation will show you what you need to adjust.
Adding compost and mulch to your garden regularly increases soils ability to retain moisture. Photo: MPCA photosRain catchment systems are an excellent way to capture water, even if it is only used to water house plants. In most local areas, homeowners can collect rainwater and have the additional benefit of being the right pH for plant health. Rainwater also doesn’t contain the chemicals added to city water to sanitize for drinking and protect pipes from corrosion. As with greywater systems, many system designs are available for the DIY-er or contractor, with commercially available components ranging from simple and inexpensive to complex and pricey.
Greywater systems capture sink, shower, and laundry water, and can provide supplemental water for garden beds and trees. For people living with septic systems, there are aerobic modifications available that will allow you to utilize the water portion in your landscape safely.
Vegetable gardens and turf can be exceptions to a low-water-use garden but consider reducing or eliminating your lawn. Photo: Wikimedia