To be a gardener with unlimited water is a rare and wonderful thing. Garden and lawn watering regulations in many drought-prone areas are restrictive and detrimental to the health of gardens and plants.. With so little water available, many people simply give up, but others have devised strategies for surviving on a smaller supply. There are many ways to make your garden more water-efficient while still keeping it lush and beautiful.
It is possible to water plants by using drip irrigation, grouping plants with similar watering needs, and using compost or mulch to insulate the water and reduce drainage.
If you want your garden to survive a drought, the best strategy is to take precautionary measures. While it is rare for a drought to be predicted months in advance, those who are already suffering from it may be blessed with extended periods of heavy rain. Installing multiple rain barrels is a good idea when this happens. As a result, many people believe this to be a time-consuming and futile endeavor. While this method does not require any effort, it can save you a lot of water over time.
The most difficult part will be finding the barrels. You can buy 55-gallon plastic drums from your local home improvement store or use your own garbage cans. You should keep this in mind when you go shopping because it can be expensive and time consuming to move these items. In order to keep out any unwanted leaves or debris that fall from your roof, you’ll probably want to cover the barrel’s top with a screen.
The next step is to figure out where to keep your barrels. When it rains, the water tends to collect in a particular area of the house. Simply place the barrel beneath any areas where you notice a lot of drips if you want to take a simple approach. This is the simplest way to set them up, but the rain that falls into the barrels will be minimal.
Gutter modifications are necessary if you prefer a more complex approach to barrel placement. Set a rain barrel at each of the four corners of the house after removing each component and angling it slightly. As a result, rather than just a few feet of shingles, your entire house serves as a rain collector. This is how to get the most out of your rain barrel in terms of water collection.
It is unlikely that each barrel will receive much rain after a severe storm. If rain does not appear to be on the horizon, it is a good idea to combine all of the barrels into one large one. Keep it out of the way until you need it. In the event that rain falls, you’ll be able to swiftly install all of your catch barrels without the need to transport all of the water you’ve already collected.
There is a perception that the use of water barrels is out-of-date. As a result, if you live in an area that is suffering from a severe drought, you’ll appreciate the time and money you spent collecting rain for your garden. When the water supply is limited, all it takes is a few trips to the backyard when it begins to rain and you’ll be a happy gardener.