10 clever ways to save water in your summer garden

We are all under pressure to save water, with gardeners often bearing the brunt of criticism when it comes to waste. But when you have invested thousands in your garden plants you can’t sit and watch them die. You can, however, take positive steps towards saving as much water as you can. Andrew Unsworth shares 10 tips.

1. COMPOST IS KING

Sandy soil leaches water, while soil with lots of compost dug into in it holds water for longer.  

Save money by making your own compost. Start with a green bin in your kitchen for all your organic waste from egg shells to veggie peels. Create a compost heap in your garden or buy a compost bin.

2. MUCH MORE MULCH

Mulching your garden beds by spreading a layer of organic material on top of the soil will reduce the amount of water that’s lost through evaporation.

Stop thinking of manicured gardens, think forest floor. Acid-loving plants like hydrangeas and azaleas love pine needles, so collect them in a park. Bark chips, dry leaves and lawn clippings can also be used as mulch, if they don’t go into the compost.

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3. COVER THE GROUND

Again, exposed soil increases moisture loss, so use groundcovers to keep it cool. Yes you’ll need to water these plants, but you’ll likely use less water than would otherwise be lost through evaporation.

4. WATER AT NIGHT

This is not sneaky, it’s common sense. If you water your garden during the hottest parts of the day a lot of the moisture will be lost through evaporation.  If you do it after 6pm, the water will have a chance to be to penetrate the soil and be absorbed by plants.

5. WATER BY HAND

You can save a lot of water by using a hand-held hose and not a sprinkler. Focus on the plants that really need it and those that you cannot afford to lose. Tougher plants will bounce back when it rains.

6. DEEPLY DOES IT

It's best to water seldom but well and let the water soak in deeply. This especially applies to trees and shrubs. A regular light sprinkling achieves very little, and wastes the water.

7. GO GREY

If gravity allows it, you can divert bathwater from a plumbing elbow outside, and lead it into the garden or a tub. The authorities don’t really like this idea as waste water dilutes sewage, but not everyone can do it or be bothered to. Don’t use greasy and high-soapy water from the kitchen. And no, not sewage!

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8. PLANT FOR DROUGHT

You can’t get rid of plants you have and love, but when buying new ones look in the "Waterwise Plants" section in your nursery, to find plants that demand less water.

Many are our indigenous plants, or at least plants that are endemic to your part of the country.

Others come from abroad, such and many succulents. Even the common bougainvillea flowers best when dry – it comes from Mexico after all.

9. POTTY TRAINING

Plants in pots are especially hard to keep alive in a heatwave or drought, as they tend to dry out daily. Give up on pretty annuals for a season and plant succulents instead. Add water-retaining granules to your potting soil and mulch pots the well, even with small stones.

10. HARVEST RAINWATER

Sadly, many modern homes do not have gutters but if yours does use it to divert rainwater into a storage tank. A rainwater tank may cost a bit, but it'll help you save money on your water bill.

If you can’t tuck the tank away, hang pots with drought-hardy plants around it to disguise it.