keeping my gargen alive....!

[jenejames]

I want to be able to keep my garden alive over summer but don’t want to use excess water. What’s the best watering system to use?

[Burra]

Use biodegradable washing up liquid, collect the used dish-washing water and use that. You can do the same with the washing machine and bath/shower water, too.

It turns into a game after a while - 'how many times can I put this water to use before it leaves my property?'

Also, don't forget to collect water from your roofs, and use mulch and swales to keep the water in your soil.

[paul m]

Being in Yorkshire we don't often need to water the garden .... however I know a garden on limestone with not such high rainfall as us (therefore can soon dry up) and by reusing grey water but especially catching roof run-off seldom have to use tap water at all.
For years, long before 'biodegradable' washing up liquid was available we used our water with standard detergent and saw no problems with the crops. I don't know what they put into detergents nowadays, though .....

Originally Posted by Burra

Use biodegradable washing up liquid, collect the used dish-washing water and use that. You can do the same with the washing machine and bath/shower water, too.

It turns into a game after a while - 'how many times can I put this water to use before it leaves my property?'

Also, don't forget to collect water from your roofs, and use mulch and swales to keep the water in your soil.

[reninfrance]

hello jenejames,
When you water soak only the area round the roots, avoid wasting water on the foliage and the spaces between plants.
Mulches of gravel or bark chippings help stop the soil drying out.
Remember that the wind dries the soil as much as the sun so shelter plants save water.
Enjoy experimenting with plants that prefer to be dry, grasses, euphorbias, sea hollies etc. The RHS do a useful book on dry gardens and have a display garden at Hyde Hall in Essex if you live anywhere near.
Hope this helps a little-

[paul m]

Originally Posted by reninfrance

...........
Remember that the wind dries the soil as much as the sun so shelter plants save water.
Enjoy experimenting with plants that prefer to be dry, grasses, euphorbias, sea hollies etc. The RHS do a useful book on dry gardens and have a display garden at Hyde Hall in Essex if you live anywhere near.
Hope this helps a little-

On that topic, if you are growing crops, then use tunnels or, on a smaller scale, cloches fro plants which need a lot of water (tomatoes, courgettes, peppers &c) or even those which need moderate amounts of water such as beans. If you have really dry soil it's simply not worth trying to grow "waterside" plants such as celery!
Tunnels have other useful effects such as keeping pests out but they also keep bees out, if you need pollination, and keep out ladybirds and hoverflies should aphids get into the tunnel! You'll need to let bees and predators in from time to time!

[BeWaterWise Rep]

Gardening does consume a lot of water. You can plan for a water-wise garden that will help save water and will also help in maintaining a beautiful garden. Visit The Garden Spot for some easy water-wise gardening tips.

[k13 wjd]

move to scotland.


Problem solved.