Green Daily

Even though nearly three fourth of our planet is covered in water, only a single digit percentage is drinking water. We need water. Our plants need water. Wildlife needs water. Conserving water when caring for the garden will help to make certain all living things have the water needed. There are several ways to use water wisely when watering the garden.

Trickle irrigation. Watering from a hose held in hand is the most inefficient way to water, as some of the water is evaporated into the air before it reaches the plant. Soaker hoses lay on the ground throughout the garden. The water trickles out of the hose into the soil.

For the more ambitious gardener, the Natural Resources Conservation Service details instructions for a creating slotted pipe irrigation system:

• Sketch the layout you will need. If you intend to water a vegetable garden, you may want one pipe next to every row or one pipe between every two rows.
• Depending on your layout, purchase the required lengths of pipe. You will need a length of solid pipe the width of your garden. You will need lengths of perforated pipe the length of your rows (the laterals) times the number of rows.
• Measure the distances between laterals and cut the solid pipe to the proper lengths.
• Place t-connectors between the pieces of solid pipe.
• Approximately in the center of the solid pipe, place a t-connector to which a hose connector will be fitted.
• Cut perforated pipe to the length of the rows.
• Attach perforated pipe to the t-connectors. Attach so that the perforations are facing downward. Cap the end of the pipe.
• Connect garden hose to hose connector on solid pipe. Adjust water from the spigot until water slowly emerges from each of the laterals.

Native plants. Consider choosing native plants for your garden. Native plants are adapted to your area and require less water.

Rain Barrel. Set up a rain barrel to catch rain water for use in the garden during the days it is not raining.