Lewis | April 28, 2015 | 0 Comments
After composing a recent blog post in our Garden Pests Series relating to the over watering of plants, it got me thinking about the volumes upon volumes of water just one gardener uses for their past-time. After doing some research into it, heavy water use can really put a dent in one’s pocket. Of course, there are environmental aspects that could be considered as well, but for the purpose of this blog post, I am just going to focus on the personal matter of water bills. Promoting water efficiency in the garden can really help you satisfy your gardening needs, but also help you save money on doing so. These tips have been supplied by the Oakleigh Manor Horticultural Services team; with their years of experience, expertise and know-how, they truly know what they are talking about!
Just a quick note: these tips may not work for everyone, as each and every garden is different and therefore has different needs. For example, for a garden that is constantly sun-drenched, a steady flow of watering may be required in the form of an irrigation system. However, if this blog post is something of interest, please read on for five special tips and let Oakleigh Manor save you a spot of money!
1) Plant grouping
A very simple premise; if different plants in your garden require the same volume of water to be able to thrive, it makes sense to group them all together. It is practical, as you can avoid the dangers of both over watering and under watering plants, which is more than possible if plants with different water requirements are planted in the same area. As a result, you can decrease your water consumption by eliminating the potential for wasted water.
2) Use sunny areas wisely
Here’s a premium example; the majority of my garden is covered by shade from my house and only certain areas of my garden receive the luxury of sunlight. If you have a similar situation, keep an eye on areas of your garden that benefit from the most sunlight exposure and those that do not. When you know this, you can plant dry-soiled plants in sunny areas, which will need for water. Much like the tips of grouping plants together, this particular tip will help in minimising wasted water volume.
3) ‘Early bird’ watering
I touched on this briefly in the Garden Pests Series of blogs focusing on over watering. A common trick that all gardeners should use is to water plants earlier in the day. This is because watering during the afternoon – typically the warmest part of the day – will result in quicker evaporation and a lower benefit for your plants. Not only this, watering during the evening will not allow enough time for the moisture to dry and as I pointed out in the aforementioned blog post, this can lead to fungus growth. Barring that, it can certainly increase the possibility of it. So set your alarms a little earlier!
4) Do not underestimate the importance of mulch
A mulch is one of the gardener’s best friends. This usually-organic material is applied to the surface of soil has a number of benefits, such as improving soil fertility, reducing weed growth and enhancing the visual aspects of your garden. However, mulch also conserves moisture and water content. Moisture loss that occurs without a mulch will result in the need of an increased watering regime, so mulch away to not only save money, but also to aid the development of your plants.
5) Plant choice is pivotal
Finally, we recommend that before purchasing the plants for your garden, research into the organisms that typically thrive in your area and environment. Choosing the right plants from this perspective can help you save money due to the lower maintenance needs they will have when contrasted with, say, another plant which isn’t native to your area.
So there you go! Five horticultural tips that can help you save money on your water bills. As I’ve said before, this may not work for everyone. Do you have any thoughts? Leave a comment in the section below and tell us what you think.
