Saving water in the gardenhas a big impact on the overall maintenance costs of the garden.Most plants require regular irrigation , especially in times of drought. Gardens located on light, sandy soils need to be irrigated frequently and abundantly.Providing plants with the right amount of wateraffects their appearance, as well as the abundance of crops in orchards and vegetable gardens. By properly watering your garden, as well asincreasing the water capacity of the soil , significant savings can be made and water consumption can be reduced. Seehow to save water in your gardenand avoid losses during drought!
How to save water in the garden?
How much does it cost to water the garden?
We use a lot of water to water plantsHow much really? For example, watering a lawn requires an average of 5 liters of water / m² per day. The daily demand of plants in flowerbeds may vary from 5 to 20 liters / m² throughout the growing season from spring to autumn.
How much water do we use to water the garden in a year?Suppose your garden is 300 m². During the day you need to supply 10 liters of water / m². During the growing season there are 120 days when you need to irrigate garden. So you will use:
300 x 10 x 120=360,000 liters of water
And how much does such watering cost?Of course it depends on the water price set in your municipality. Average prices for 1m³ of water for individual voivodships vary considerably and range from about PLN 7 in the Podlaskie voivodship to almost PLN 13 in the Małopolskie voivodship.For our calculations, we will assume the average price of 1 m³ of tap water at the level of PLN 10. 1 liter equals 0.001 m³. The consumption calculated above is therefore 360 m³. It will therefore cost … PLN 3,600 !!!
Do you admit that there is something to save?To this, let's add that Poland has quite poor resources of clean drinking water and, unfortunately, is one of the countries with the least water in Europe. While the European average is 4800 m³ of water per capita per year, in Poland there is only 1600 m³ per capita. This value is decreasing year by year.
This effect is intensified by mild and dry wintersthat we have to deal with in recent years. There was almost no frost or snowfall. After such a winter, the soil is dry at the beginning of spring. This problem is mainly pointed out by farmers, fruit growers and foresters. But also we gardeners should not underestimate it.
In such a situationsaving water is our duty ! Meanwhile, in your garden you can save up to half of the water used for watering.
Meet5 proven ways to save water in the gardenThanks to them you will avoid losses in plants during a drought.
1. Reduce water loss when watering
On the garden hose, attach the tip with the sprinkler , which saves water and allows you to sprinkle the plants more thoroughly. Water on windless days so that the water is not blown away by the wind. It is also worth collecting rainwater in a rainwater barrel connected, for example, to a gutter and, if possible, water the garden with rainwater. This is a very good way tosave tap water
2. Let the water reach the plant roots
Frequent watering with small amounts of water is not recommended. Remember thatit is better to water the garden less often, but very abundantly . Then the water will soak deeper under the soil surface and reach the plant roots.
3. Limit water evaporation from the soil
Water the garden in the eveningIt is cooler at night and less water evaporates from the soil. It is also necessary to mulch the soil. A layer of mulch on the surface of the soil slows down the evaporation of water from the soil.Mulching in spring, when the soil is still sufficiently moistHowever, if you are a bit late and do mulch only in summer, do it immediately after watering the plants abundantly.
4. Increase the water capacity of the soil in your garden
By increasing the water capacity of the soil, you will makethe soil absorbs more water and retains it for longerThis is another way tosaving water in the gardenThis treatment is especially beneficial in light soils where water quickly evaporates or seeps into the lower layers (too deep to be accessible to the roots of your plants).
You can increase the water capacity of the soil byenriching the soil with organic matter . So add compost, manure or peat to the soil. The soil with these materials should be well dug and mixed.
Increasing the water capacity of the soil will allowto save water even more if you use TerraCottemIt contains a hydrogel - a water-storing substance.
How much can you gain by using TerraCottem?For example, peat absorbs up to 5 times its own weight of readily available water. However, it loses these properties within 3 years. Meanwhile, the hydrogel contained in TerraCottemcan absorb 250 to 400 times more water than itsvolume! In addition, it retains its properties for 8 years, i.e. longer than garden peat.
What does this mean in practice? I have great news for you here.Using TerraCottem can reduce water consumption for watering by up to half!
Moreoverapplication of TerraCottem prevents periodic water shortages , which could cause inhibition of plant growth, reduced nutrient uptake, wilting and premature drying of leaves, and in extreme cases whole plants.Thereforethanks to the use of TerraCottem, you will provide plants with good growth conditions during periods of droughtand when it is not possible to water the garden regularly (e.g. when you go on vacation).
It is also worth knowing thatTerraCottem will also reduce the use of fertilizers!This is because TerraCottem contains ingredients that improve the structure of the substrate and prevent leaching of fertilizers into the deeper layers of the earth. As a result, fertilizers are retained within the roots and better used by plants.
TerraCottem is a soil conditioner that contains: hydrogel + fertilizer + ingredients improving the structure of the substrateThanks to this, TerraCottem provides a triple effect, allows you to prepare a perfect soil for planting, and after using it, we do not have to apply additional fertilization to newly planted plants. The long-acting fertilizer contained in TerraCottem is enough for plants for the first year of cultivation.
TerraCottem is perfect if you mix it with the soil for plantingtrees and shrubs, perennials and flowers.It is also worth applying them before setting up a lawn.TerraCottem added to the ground in balcony boxes brings enormous benefits, where water deficit is particularly easy.
TerraCottem is equally good for planting potted plants at home.Thanks to TerraCottem, the soil in the pots stays moist longer , and we can water the plants less often, using less water for watering: -)TerraCottem can also be used if we already have plants planted. Then remove the top layer of soil or gently make holes around the plants and sprinkle TerraCott in such a way that it hits the root area.
5. Apply mycorrhiza
Mycorrhizal preparations contain useful mycelium, which enters into a relationship between mycorrhiza and plant roots. As a result, the absorbent surface of the roots is increased, andit is easier for plants to take water and nutrients from the ground This translates into a he althier appearance of plants, more lush flowering and better fruiting. Above all, however, mycorrhiza allows to reduce water consumption for watering andmakes plants resistant to droughtThe effect of mycorrhiza can be observed in forests where no one regularly waters or nurtures trees. Mycorrhizal fungi are common in the forest, and plants can cope there without the help of a gardener.
Preparations with mycorrhiza are best applied directly to the roots of plantsduring planting. But they can also be used for older plants that have been growing in the garden for a long time. Then, narrow holes are made in the ground (e.g. with a pencil or a stick) to the depth of the plant roots and the mycorrhiza preparation is introduced into these holes using a special applicator.
Personally, I am a great supporter of mycorrhiza. I used it for all the plants in my garden.Thanks to the mycorrhiza, my plants do not get sick, and the drought that lasted from spring to summer 2020, the plants survived perfectly Also those planted in containers and pots, where water deficit is very easy.
various types of mycorrhizal preparationsare available for sale, adapted to individual groups of plants. More information about which mycorrhiza to choose can be found in the descriptions of mycorrhizal vaccines in the store of our guide: -)
