Water-wise Gardening

WATERING NOTES

To make your own rain gauge, place an empty tuna can or similar shallow can on your lawn while watering. Measure the water’s depth in the can to estimate how much water you’re adding to the area over a given time.

The general rule is to water deeply but as infrequently as possible; let the top inch or so of soil dry between waterings to encourage the roots to reach as deep as possible into the ground. Use your tuna can and the general guidelines below, at least in the beginning, but watch your plants closely because they’ll show you how much water they need.

High water requirements: 1/2 inch, 3 times per week

Moderate water requirements: 3/4 inch, 1 time per week

Low water requirements: 1/2 inch, 2 times per month

WATER-SAVING SUGGESTIONS FOR ANY YARD

Soil preparation

The first step in building a water-wise yard is improving the soil. Before you begin, add organic matter to your soil to help it hold moisture where it needs to and provide good drainage for plants that prefer slightly drier soil. Consult your county extension office for specifics about the appropriate additives for the soil in your area, or have a soil test done to determine what adjustments need to be made. For more on soil adjustments.

Remember that your best chance for success in challenging climates lies in choosing plants that fit the climate, not changing the water use of the landscape to fit the plants you want to grow — a wasteful, frustrating and sometimes impossible undertaking.

Watering tips

In addition to choosing low-water plants, conserve water by grouping together plants with similar water, light and temperature requirements. Horticulturist Carl Wilson of Colorado State University Cooperative Extension calls this system of grouping plants by their water need “hydrozoning.” It’s better to group plants that need more water together in one area and water them separately than to waste water on a large area peppered with plants that may or may not need that much water.

Another consideration is how you water, which can have a significant impact on your xeric gardening success and water-saving capacity. Sprinklers that spray high into the air, for example, waste a great deal of moisture through evaporation. Those that spray closer to the ground are much more effective. Also consider where the sprinkler is spraying. If your driveway, sidewalk or the side of your house is covered with water, adjust the sprinkler head.

Soaker hoses or drip systems are another excellent water- and time-saving form of garden irrigation. For plants that need foliage watered as well, choose spraying sprinklers that are low to the ground and limit the distance the water must travel and be lost in evaporation. There are even adjustable sprayer heads that allow for changing the amount of water flowing out over a given period of time.

Make a plan

The shape and slope of your existing landscape will have some effect on your water-saving adjustments. A steep slope may be covered with turf but is difficult to mow, and water simply runs off of it. Consider terracing the area and filling it with some of the herbs listed on Page 32. If you have a rocky area, you can replace that with your favorite perennials, or leave the rocks and fill the crevices with low-growing groundcovers such as thyme and pinks that will creep between the rocks, with a backdrop of plants such as echinacea and hyssop.

Mulch

Mulching plants can make a big difference in water conservation. Just as leaves and foliage in the forest cover the ground and preserve moisture, so does mulch in your garden. Choose an organic mulch such as bark mulch, cocoa beans, buckwheat hulls or even licorice root mulch to surround plants (gravel or rock mulch will only retain heat and adversely affect your attempts to conserve water).

Mulching plants will achieve three things — moisture conservation, addition of minerals and nitrogen through decomposition, and prevention of weed growth. But be careful when mulching plants that prefer dry, well-drained soil: Depending on the type of mulch you use, it can inhibit growth by keeping roots too moist or suffocating them rather than helping plants thrive.