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Having a garden can be a fun, rewarding, green experience, especially in the summer, when everything blooms and all your hard work brings beauty (and maybe even some food). If you want it to stay green, though, almost every garden is going to require some watering, but it doesn't have to send your water meter spinning out of control and your water bill skyrocketing. Here are some tips to keep your garden green and your water use down.
Start with native plants. This one goes for both flowers and food; if the plants are used to growing in your locale's climate, they'll have adapted to the seasonal weather patterns and will be better suited for living on less water in the summer. As a bonus, native plants also contribute to biodiversity, since, unlike invasive species, they won't spread and choke out plants that have evolved to live there. Anyone who has ever been to the South and seen Kudzu (that's Pueraria lobata) knows what can happen when invasive species are left unchecked.
Use mulch when you can. Using mulch in a garden (it also works for container gardening) is roughly akin to using insulation in your home; it helps keep moisture in and excess heat out, creating more conditions more conducive to growth and allowing you to water less.
Resist the temptation to water when it's hot out. As with watering your lawn, the hotter and windier it is, the more water you lose to evaporation. Watering early in the morning or late at night will help ensure that more of the water gets to the plants that need it.
Don't water when it's raining. By the same token, watering during a rainstorm is a pretty wasteful venture. And, while it seems like it'd go without saying, we've all seen the sprinklers going when it's raining, and shaken our heads. Don't be that guy.
Wait for fall (or next spring) to put new plants in the ground. No matter how native or drought-resistant they are, all new plants require a little more water to get going, so waiting for a less water-intensive season to plant will help you save more water.
Difficulty level: Easy
More garden and water-related reading on TreeHugger and Planet Green
Do the Math to See if Rainwater Harvesting is For You
Build a Rain Barrel
Build a Downspout Bog Garden
Minimize the Water You Use on Your Lawn
How to Go Green: Gardening
Peak Everything: Learn about Peak Water
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