How to prepare Your Own Water Efficient Garden - Xeriscaping
Water Efficient Gardening - Xeriscaping
by Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton
Step 1 - Soil Preparation
Before you begin to plant, be sure to prepare the soil to provide nutrients and moisture in order for the plants to thrive.
* Find out what type of soil you have and add appropriate organic materials, such as compost, peat moss, or manure.
* Mix compost or other organic material into the top 30 centimetres of soil.
Step 2 - Plant Choice
Choose drought resistant plants to lower maintenance and maximize water savings.
* Group plants according to their water requirements.
* Use grass only for well traveled areas or as a backdrop for flower beds.
* Vegetables require more water, therefore it is essential to use water efficient irrigation techniques.
* When planning your garden, pay attention to plant height, and to the season and colour of bloom.
Step 3 - Mulch
Mulch is a soil cover that helps to control erosion, suppress weeds, retain moisture, moderate soil temperature and reduce disease transmission. Bark, wood chips, sawdust, compost, grass clippings, or crushed rock can all be used as mulch material.
* Spread the mulch of your choice in a layer about 10 cm deep over the surface area of the garden.
* Mulches of different colours and textures can enhance the appearance of your garden.
Step 4 - Irrigation
Proper irrigation techniques ensure that your garden receives adequate water while keeping in mind water efficiency.
Use soaker hoses or a drip irrigation system instead of sprinklers to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. It takes approximately one hour for a rose bush, and up to four hours for a mature tree.
* Always take into account the amount of rain your garden has received before watering it. Leave a measuring container out in hte garden to help assess how much rain falls each week.
* If watering is necessary, do it early in the morning.
* Avoid watering in the afternoon when water can be wasted to evaporation, and at night, during cool, mosit conditions, which create an ideal environment for lawn disease to develop.
* Rain water collected in a barrel for garden use is an excellent way to be water efficient.
Reduce the amount of asphalt or concrete around the garden to decrease run off and allow rain to soak into the ground.
Read More
Water efficient garden - recommended plants - Perennials and Annuals
Contact Information
Email: admin@pioneerthinking.com
Copyright 1999 - 2008 Pioneer Thinking. All Rights Reserved Worldwide
Votes:7
Comments: 0