Water scarcity, water saving tips

Discussion in 'Gardening Other' started by donnasmith, Jun 12, 2009.

  1. donnasmith

    donnasmith New Seed

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    How can i save water, i live in California, water scarcity has become a major problem for me, help me with some tips.
     
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  3. gardengater

    gardengater Young Pine

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    There are several different kinds of water barrels on the market and directions on making your own to gather rainwater right from your roof. Hope that lack of water eases up soon.
     
  4. EJ

    EJ Allotmenteer Extraordinaire

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    There are lots of way of saving used water. When we had shortages in the past, although your wouldn't believe it now as we are in the midst of a huge rainstorm with thunder and lightening!

    I have a large plastic brewers bucket in the kitchen and when I drain any veggies that I cook, I stand the collander over the bucket to collect the water. It fills over the course of a week and I can then use this to water my pots and baskets.

    Here in the UK you can get a diverter which channels your waste water from your bath and sink into a waterbutt - this is called grey water and you have to use it quite quickly as it has soap in it, and I believe it isn't ideal on seedlings or veggies, but in your regular pots or borders, it is perfect.

    Make sure that you have guttering all around your roof to collect all of the natural rainfall, and if you have a shed or greenhouse, you can also fit guttering which goes to a waterbutt.

    When planting baskets and pots, can you get hold of water retaining gel? This is a powder which you add water to. This then swells to more than double it's size and you add this to the potting compost. It then cuts down the amount of times you have to water them. Also, stand pots in dishes which you can fill with water rather than water pots and let the water just run away.

    Hope these ideas help.
     
  5. Joan

    Joan Seedling

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    A very basic gardening technique to save water is using mulch. Mulch also has other benefits.

    A rarely used technique, one which is usually considered a desert ploy, is to plant not in raised beds, not even at ground level, but in beds or rows somewhat recessed into the ground. This puts the plant roots close to where the water goes (down!) and even throws a tiny bit of shade on the beds from their own sides during the early and late hours of day.

    Do not try to grow the same plants you see in garden magazines if the featured gardens are in England, the Pacific northwest, or other areas with much milder, wetter climates. You'd always be chasing them with the hose and sprinkler.

    If you try to keep a green lawn, please recognize that grasses have seasons, including at least one, sometimes two dormant seasons. Most grasses can be forced to be green in summer, through watering, but for many if not most lawn grasses, the grasses natural state is to be brown during season of low rainfall. A brown lawn is not necessarily a dead lawn. I can just be a dormant lawn, ready to wake up naturally when a rainy season comes.

    If your local rainfall is so scant that a grass lawn must be watered all seasons, then you live in a place inappropriate for grass lawns. That is something more of us need to accept. Here in the Midwest I cannot expect to be able to grow bananas and coconuts: nature just doesn't intend it. Likewise there are places where grass lawns are just not fitting with nature.
     



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  6. daisybeans

    daisybeans Hardy Maple

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    I collect rain water and use it to water. Someone mentioned a rain barrel. I use a trash can and I throw in some mosquito dunks. Some people also suggest a screen on the top so nothing gets drowned in there (I haven't done that but probably should). I dip it out in a big bucket.

    I also collect water from my dehumidifier in the basement. Rather than have it run into a drain, I catch it in the collection vessel and empty it into a 5 gallon bucket. I generally collect enough each day to water my porch plants and large herb pots so it really does help! Helps the basement too. At first I thought it a major pain in the .... but now it is kind of a nice daily ritual after work.
     
  7. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Save Water while Gardening

    Here are some ways to save water while gardening -

    * Use less thirsty plants in your garden.
    * Look for plants that are well-suited to regional and local conditions.
    * Water plants only when needed, not by the clock or calendar.
    * Water at night, when evaporation is much lower and the air calmer.
    * A two- to four-inch layer of mulch also evens out temperature extremes, keeps the soil cool on hot days and warm on cool days.
     

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