With just a few adjustments to your watering style you can save water, time, and money. Water-wise gardening can actually produce healthier plants and offer higher yields than you may have ever had before.
1. Build healthy soil. Never consider the soil in your garden “finished.” Add compost and organic matter regularly for good tilth, water retention, and drainage. Think of it as a work-in progress—forever.
2. Plant selection. Group plants together in a garden bed based on how much water they need. Plant drought-tolerant varieties the farthest away from your water source. You’ll not only save some water, but you’ll save time too.
3. Mulch everything possible. Mulches reduce evaporation, and many of them—such as wood chips, leaves, grass clippings, and newspaper—retain water, as well. (Bonus: mulch goes a long way as a weed suppressor.)
4. Consistent watering. Keep to that watering schedule and you’ll use less of it because you won’t have to soak soil that’s become “hard pan” after you’ve missed several days.
5. Use drip irrigation. It doesn’t matter if you incorporate a drip line system or tuck soaker hoses under plants. This is the best way to get water directly to the roots with the least amount of evaporation.
6. Use timers on your drip irrigation. Timers allow you to walk away when that buzzer for the oven goes off without accidentally leaving the water running for three hours. I speak from the voice of experience.
7. Water in the morning hours. Watering in the early morning hours (before 9 or 10 am) allows the plants to take advantage of that pick-me-up drink of water before the heat can set in. You also get more bang out of your buck because the plants get to drink before the atmosphere does (less evaporation).
8. Water frequently and deep (and less). Watering often and deeply encourages those roots to burrow deep into the soil, creating strong roots and healthy plants. (But remain consistent; see #4.)
9. Keep the weeds out. Every day that you leave weeds in your garden is another day that you’re watering them. Weeds compete with your plants for water.
10. Water slowly. Water your plants like you drink a cup of water. Start “pouring” and let it puddle a bit. Then stop for a beat or two (or more if you have clay soil) and let the water absorb before continuing. Let the water make its way deep into the soil.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Ashman Garden Cultivator (1Pack)
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Solid Build—The Ashman Garden Cultivator/Tiller is strong in construction so that it can withstand heavy work in the garden. The blade and the shaft are coupled well for deep digging and uprooting the soil from the depths. It serves the purpose of cultivation very well. Create a blooming crop and watch it blossom and reap the benefits. Sharpened Fine piercing Blade—The blades are razor sharp and are made to pierce into any kind of soil and to serve digging, loosening soil, and weeding. The blades are rust-proof and have chip-resistant coating enhancing durability. Use it to control weeds, bury crop residue in the soil, and for preparing a proper seed bed.
High-Quality Design—The thoughtful design incorporated to shape the blades in L shape helps dig deep into the soil and rip it from beneath for cultivation. This helps a lot when weeding. Dig well and plant well. The handle is made to fit in the hand well and can be held tightly to apply push and pull forces effectively. Practical Utility—The garden cultivator is made with “practical utility” as the core of its purpose. It serves all the necessary purposes when gardening. Helps mix soil, which will loosen it up, providing more nutrients for the crops.
Gardzen 3-Pack 72 Gallons Garden Bag
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High Quality Fabric - Gardzen Garden Waste Bags are made from 4.4oz/yd2 (150g/㎡) durable polypropylene fabric that can withstand heavy loads and rough handling. Please note that they should not be left out in the sun for long periods. Environmentally Friendly - These reusable yard waste bags are an environmentally friendly choice as they can be used over and over again, unlike disposable bags. The strong handles make it easy to carry the bags, even when they are full. These garden bags for debris allow you to complete your gardening tasks efficiently and effectively, while minimising waste and promoting sustainability. Large Capacity - With a height of 30 inches and a diameter of 26 inches, there is plenty of room for a large amount of garden waste. Whether it's leaves, branches or grass clippings, these yard waste containers can handle it all. A Must-Have For Gardeners - these leaf bags are an essential tool for managing garden waste and can make your gardening tasks much more efficient. The large capacity and durable construction make them ideal for storing and transporting various items. The yard bags can also be folded and stored compactly when not needed, saving valuable space.
Package Included - A great value set of 3pcs heavy duty lawn and leaf bags. 3pcs white plastic hoops. There are 2pcs double stitched webbing handles in the top and 1pc strong webbing corner handles in the bottom.
Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil, 32 oz Ready-to-Use Spray, Multi-Purpose Fungicide, Insecticide and Miticide for Organic Gardening
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MULTI-PURPOSE BUG KILLER—Bonide Neem Oil is a perfect pest control solution for any garden dealing with mites, flies, mildew, and more. This product is a three-in-one fungicide, miticide, and insecticide. READY TO USE—This product is conveniently ready to use when it arrives. The spray nozzle makes this product easy to deploy and can even be used up to the day of harvest. KILLS ALL STAGES OF INSECTS—Bonide's 3-in-1 Neem Oil is great because it kills the egg, larvae, and adult stages of insects while also preventing the fungal attack of plant tissues. DORMANT SPRAY—In addition to being useful for ridding your garden of insects and other pests, this Neem oil makes a great dormant spray to help protect your plants throughout all seasons. ORGANIC GARDENING—Derived from the Neem seed, our product is great for use on roses, flowers, vegetables, fruits, herbs, indoor houseplants, trees and shrubs. It's approved for organic gardening.
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