It’s hard to imagine in the midst of spring showers that summer is fast approaching. Though you may love the hot temperatures, they often wreak havoc on your garden. Conserving water will give you more time to enjoy the summer activities you love, while helping the environment.
Learn from the professionals at Canada’s Gardenland on how you can effectively conserve water this summer:
We all love to complain about the rain, but it has major benefits for your garden. City water is costly in the summer months and has its toll on the environment due to the intensive nature of the extraction and purification process. Put rainy spring days to use by installing an in-home rain harvesting system. There are many variations, but one way to harvest rainwater is by installing rain barrels that catch excess rainwater from your gutters via a downpipe. If you live in a particularly rainy area, such as Toronto, you can install multiple barrels to capitalize on all of the free water.
Mulch is known for instantly giving your garden beds a face-lift, but it has other benefits, namely water retention. Mulch provides an additional layer—usually two-three inches deep—that helps the ground absorb moisture throughout the day and prevents surface runoff. While mulch is helpful in terms of soil moisture, it also prevents weed growth as it creates a barrier that stunts the growth of weed sprouts. Late spring is the best time of year to put down mulch so consider acting soon to let your garden reap the benefits.
Mow Your Grass High
Want to maintain lush, green grass year-round? Summer heat takes a toll on your lawn, with the intense sun often causing yellow patches because of dehydration. One easy way of preventing this is by changing the height at which you mow your grass. There is a direct correlation between lawn length and root depth, which means the higher your lawn is, the deeper the roots go. Deeper roots are better equipped to handle heat conditions and are able to access water retained at deeper levels in the soil. Reduce your garden’s water consumption by increasing the blade height the next time you mow your lawn.
Make Your Own Compost
Composting has become wildly popular in the gardening world due to the proven benefits found from adding rich nutrients to your soil. Adding compost to your garden beds will increase water retention in sandy soils and improve drainage in clay-based soils, reducing the amount of water you use. Create compost by collecting items, such as dried leaves as well as vegetable and coffee scraps, in a sealable container that you can store inside or outside your home.
Group Plants by Water Needs
Cluster plants in natural groupings to save time and water when caring for your garden. In doing so, you are able to effectively target plants according to their watering needs, either manually or through an irrigation system. This relates to the concept of xeriscaping, where plants are placed in a way that optimizes irrigation. Depending on the layout of your garden, this could mean clustering typically dry plants at the bottom of a sloped area or close to the edge of your home where there is natural runoff.
Take advantage of your next rainfall to reduce your water consumption, and enjoy the summer months in the garden you had beautifully landscaped by your trusted professionals at Canada’s Gardenland. Learn more about our services by giving us a call at 647-449-9512 and get your free quote today!