• Water Wise Gardening
Xeric adj. Of, characterized by, or adapted to an extremely dry habitat.
Xerophilous adj. Flourishing in or adapted to a dry hot environment.
Xerophyte n. A plant adapted to living in an arid habitat.
“Xeriscaping”, this term originated with the Denver Colorado Water Department in 1981. It is derived from the Greek word, Xeros, meaning dry and “-scape” as in landscape. It describes a tailored landscaping scheme equipped to withstand dry conditions.
I must admit one of my pet peeves is people who don’t conserve our natural resources. I cringe when I see someone throw away an aluminum can, I tend to be a little hot under the collar when I see one singular person driving around in a Hummer, I’ve been known to stalk people who litter and then confront them, but by far the worst offenders for me are water wasters. When I am walking in my neighborhood in the middle of the afternoon and I see sprinklers spinning away it makes me irritable. Or when I witness a neighbor watering every day or even every other day I want to throw my arms up in disgusts at this wasteful display.
But Americans are obsessed with their lawns and turf grass is problematic in the hot months of summer because it is just a water guzzler, literally. Many homeowners tend to over-water, which is why 30-50% of all domestic water used goes towards landscaping! In fact according to Go For Green, The Active Living & Environment Program, the average suburban lawn gobbles up about 45,500 liters of water every summer. They suggest using drought tolerant meadow plants (for sunny spots) or shade loving ground covers that don’t require water. Water restrictions may very easily be in our foreseeable future so now is the time to start implementing water-wise strategies as a way of life before it is a required emergency measure.
Matt Sayers, Channel 6 Meteorologist, stated that rain totals for this summer, the period from June 1st to August 9th, are slightly lower than average. However, he went on to say that last year our rain totals for the same period were higher than average. Sayers says, “One theory associated with global warming is that the yearly patterns will be more extreme. For instance, extremely cool and wet one year followed by extremely hot and dry the next year.” While this is not Sayers’ theory and he declined to speculate on something as random as weather we gardeners may want to pay heed and prepare our green spaces with plants that will thrive in all conditions that Mother Nature throws our way.
Here are some ideas that any gardener can start to integrate into their garden to lessen the time and money spent on the pesky chore of watering:
- Consider a cheaper alternative to a lawn, like a ground cover.
- Extend the patio areas, walkways and other hardscapes to lessen the lawn.
- Group plants together that have similar water requirements.
- Sow plants that need an exorbitant amount of water near downspout and run-off areas.
- Use rainwater, captured in a bucket to water plants.
- Place drought tolerant plants on the north & west position of the garden so they will shelter less drought tolerant plants from the drying effects of prevailing winds.
- Plant native flora.
- Consider installing a water-efficient drip irrigation system.
Jack Landgrebe, a Lawrence Master Gardener, took to heart the idea of conserving water. He explains, “I realized several years ago, that my water bill was getting on the high side and it was taking too much of my time to be constantly running around changing sprinkler locations in my garden. I instituted several changes such as the automatically timed sprinklers and soaker hoses. It seems to have made a difference in the water bill and my time commitment. It also adds the advantage of keeping the garden alive when you are out of town.”
One of the methods that Landgrebe has implemented is the use soaker hoses, he says, “I have incorporated some soaker hoses especially in areas that are narrow and close to my home. They consume less water than conventional above ground sprinklers and deliver it directly to the ground with less evaporation loss.” A simple step like watering with the correct equipment can save gallons of water with each use and that adds up.
SOIL: Put good top quality soil in your beds. Soil has the ability to hold the water and air but it also prevents excess water from rotting the plants by applying quality soil you can balance this act. Adding organic matter, such as compost, breaks down into a substance called humus. Humus binds the grains of sandy soil together to help it hold water. It also pulls clay soil particles apart, allowing excess water to drain from between them.
MULCH: A layer of mulch helps to cool the soil and slows down the weed population. Weeds will battle with your plants for moisture so the fewer weeds the more water goes to its intended place.
WATER WISELY: It is important to water in the mornings or evenings when moisture is less likely to evaporate before it even gets to the plants. Water only once a week in one application very thoroughly (for an hour to 1 ½ hours). By watering this way the roots of plants grow down to search for the water, this is healthy. If you water frequently the water stay on the surface and so will your roots.
LESS TURF: How much grass do we really need? The dogs and the kids need a little for recreation but you probably do not need nearly as much grass as you have. You might try thyme, vinca or creeping jenny ground covers instead- they require much less water and no mowing!
RIGHT PLANTS: Choose plants that are native to our area or plants that are just down right hardy to drought conditions.
- Succulents’ foliage is often fat and pulpy, allowing them to store water. Other plant species develop tough, leathery leaves with a waxy cuticle, such as Evening Primrose and gazania. They retain moisture by preventing transpiration – the movement of water out of the plant through its leaves. Fuzzy plants such as dusty miller, English lavender and some yarrows have coverings of spiky hairs which forms a mat to shade the leaves surfaces. These hairs trap evaporating water in. Leaves and stems that are a silvery color tend to reflect the bright sunlight such as Artemisia. Bulbs’ and tubers’ enlarged roots and stems store water and nutrients that the plant later uses in the dry season. Tulips would actually thrive in hot summer conditions if they did not go dormant.
WATER-WISE PLANT SUGGESTIONS:
ANNUALS:
- Dusty Miller
- Lantana
- Marigold
- Bachelor’s button
- Mexican zinnia
PERENNIALS:
- Aster
- English lavender
- Creeping phlox
- Yarrow
- Butterfly weed
- Evening Primrose
- Thyme
- Russian sage
- Yucca
- Juniper
SHRUBS:
- Butterfly bush
- Rockspray Cotoneaster
- Blue-Mist spirea
- Fragrant Sumac
Did you know?
Aside from pressing problems such as global climate change (global warming), there are strong arguments that water shortages are likely to be the 21st century’s most burning environmental issue. (according to www.botany.uwc.ac.za)
Did you know?
That between 1983 and 1994, despite only a 16% increase in the population served by a municipal water supply system, residential water increased by 23%. (according to www.goforgreen.ca)