Reduce your water use in the garden this summer
We all want to keep our lawns and gardens healthy and vibrant. But hotter, drier summers affect our water supplies and some places experience watering bans. Here are some simple tips on how to have a beautiful garden all summer long while using water wisely.
1. Hook up a rain barrel or two:
Installing rain barrels to capture water is a great first step. Not only do you have a ready supply of water for your plants and flowers, you keep runoff water from going into the storm sewers and affecting our lakes, rivers and streams. Check your municipality to see if they have a program to help you buy a rain barrel.
2. Wise watering techniques:
Our lawns need only about one inch of water a week — check the weather to see if rain is in the forecast, if not, water in the early morning or evening hours so water won’t be lost to evaporation. Water gauges help you see how much water you’ve put on your lawn.
3. Learn lawn lessons:
Lawns go dormant in hot dry conditions. Ontario doesn’t have a rainy climate like Vancouver or Ireland. Why not let it rest until the autumn rains come in and green it up again? Just because your lawn isn’t bright green all year long doesn’t make you a bad neighbour.
New formulations of grass seed have been developed that can tolerate drought and shade and even pests. They have root systems that go so deep they can stay green and healthy in the worst conditions. Check out your garden centre for information.
Dig up the lawn and plant ground cover that is drought tolerant!
