Tips to Conserve Water when Watering a Garden.

It’s possible to reduce outdoor water use by 20-50 percent with a few easy changes. To keep your water bill low and plants looking perky, try these tips from the National Garden Bureau.

Improve the Soil

Use organic matter, such as compost, chopped-up leaves, or composted manure, to supplement your soil. These organic materials increase the water-holding capacity of the soil. A good rule of thumb is to add one inch of compost per year.

In the planting hole, mix one part compost to one part soil. The compost will help the soil hold onto water for a longer length of time while not allowing it to become waterlogged. Compost also adds nutrients to the soil. Making your own compost is easy to do or you can purchase it at your local nursery.

Water in the Early Morning

Give your plants a solid soak. While sprinklers get the job done, a soaker hose is even better. It applies the water directly to the soil by the roots, so up to 90 percent is actually available to plants.

Believe it or not, the time of day can make a difference as a way to conserve water. By watering in the cooler period of morning, there is less evaporation occurring. Avoid watering in the afternoon, when much of the water can be lost to evaporation. It is also wise to avoid watering in the evening when the moisture can foster fungal diseases.

Add Mulch

Spread mulch. It prevents weeds from growing and soaking up all of the water you add to the planting area. A layer of mulch provides the most bang for your buck. Organic mulches are best. Grass clippings free of weedkillers, evergreen needles, shredded bark, and fall leaves will add nutrients to the soil over time.

Once you water plants, moisture begins to immediately evaporate from the soil’s surface. By adding a layer of mulch, you help conserve water by limiting the amount lost to the atmosphere. In addition, mulching helps to keep the soil moist longer while keeping soil temperature cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Save Rainwater to Conserve Water

When rain does fall, it is important to harvest and direct it toward your garden instead of allowing it to runoff.  Be extra frugal and capture all of the free water you can. Place rain barrels or a cistern at your downspouts. A 1,000-square-foot roof collects about 625 gallons of water from one inch of rain.

You can also conserve and collect rainwater by creating rain gardens.

Plant Plants with Similar Watering Needs Together

Know the characteristics of your planting site, such as the amount of sun and shade it receives soil type, and wind conditions. Make a plan to group plants with similar needs, like these drought-tolerant plants.

Another drought-tolerant garden tip: place higher water-use plants toward the house where they can be watered easily. Group more drought-tolerant plants on the outer edges of the landscape.

Use Native Plants

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a garden filled with plants that needed little to no supplemental water? Some plants get all the water they need from rain, so once established, they require less attention. If you’re looking for perennials suited for drought conditions, your best bet is usually native plants that are adapted to your climate and soil type.

Native plants are specially adapted to survive on natural rainfall amounts. In times of drought, they may need some supplemental water, but not as much as those that are not adapted to your local climate. Another bonus is that native plants are generally more pest resistant, need little to no fertilizer, and are lower maintenance than those that aren’t native. If you decide to plant some non-natives in your landscape, be sure that they are well-adapted to your climate without needing excessive amounts of water. Plant native trees that attract birds.

Remove the Competition

Keep up with garden chores. Healthy plants mean less work! When you stay on top of tasks such as weeding, thinning, and pruning, you add to the health of your plants and, in turn, need to water less frequently.

Allow Grass to Grow Longer

By letting your grass grow to a height of three inches, it will shade the roots. This helps conserve water by decreasing the amount of evaporation. In addition, a higher mowing height will also help keep weeds from growing.

Take Out Some Grass

A lawn uses a large amount of water—an average of 55 inches a year. Beds filled with perennials will use much less water and provide a welcome spot of color in the landscape. If you opt to take out part of, or even your entire lawn, there are countless ways to create a beautiful garden that needs little to no supplemental water.

Use Porous Landscaping Materials

Avoid concrete if you want to conserve water. Rainwater can seep through porous materials, such as gravel or sand-set stepping stones, thereby watering nearby plants.

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