Mulch To Conserve Water

Water is a precious resource, and there is precious little of it about at the moment. It is depressingly dry, with no hint there will be rain any time soon. So it’s vital to consider ways to conserve it! These are our top 7 tips for saving water in your garden:

1. Choose hardy plants
Select plants that have good drought tolerance (this is must in our neck of the woods). Always look for plants with small, hard or hairy leaves that have evolved in dry climates. Great choices include grevilleas, bottlebrush and lavender. An added bonus of these plants is that birds love them too!

2. Mulch, mulch, and mulch some more
We can't emphasise this enough. Mulch serves a multitude of functions in your garden, but the purpose of this article is to highlight how mulch helps to lock moisture in to your soil. Mulch around the base of plants and consider using organic mulches which break down and help improve the soil.

3. Fertilise regularly
Fertilise with a good organic plant food. This will help improve soil structure and its ability to retain water.

4. Automatic irrigation and tap timers
Help automate watering in your garden and ensure your plants receive the right amount of water at the right time every day. Some smart devices have up to 4 programmable watering cycles, with an eco-function to help reduce wasteful water run-off, and watering can even be suspended when rain is forecast. This can be a real blessing for time-poor garden lovers.

5. Check for water leaks
Make sure all your tap fittings and hoses aren’t leaking. One way to check this is to turn off every tap in your home, check the water meter, wait a few hours and then check again. If there is a different reading you will need to call on a good plumber to check it out further.

6. Don’t lose your water to evaporation
Give your plants a deep drink early in the morning before the harsh afternoon sun comes around. This gives the roots time to soak up the water and you will lose less of it to evaporation.

7. Recycle
This is a particularly good tip for those on tank water, and in situations where water is REALLY scarce. From a glass of ‘old’ water to the water you use to cook your pasta in – it all counts. Before pouring it down the sink, think about whether your plants might be thirsty.

As we mentioned earlier, mulching is not only a powerful way to lock in moisture around your plants, but depending on the type you choose, it can also deter termites and vermin, and keep your weeding down as well. All very compelling reasons to consider mulching when the weather turns dry (we all know how time consuming it is to weed when they snap off at ground level because the soil is so dry!).

If you are unsure about the best type of mulch to use in your garden beds, give us a call and our knowledgeable staff can advise you. Call us on 5453 7100. Are you on Facebook? If so, and you haven't Liked our page, head over there now and like our page for more tips and garden info and inspiration. Oh, and as a little thank you, if you are in the market for mulch, mention this offer on Facebook to receive 50% of your next delivery of mulch!