With many of us recently inspired to grow our own vegetables, taking on varying sizes of “victory gardens,” there’s no doubt that more of us will have more to water! However, we need to remember to water wisely… water smart, Garden Smart!
The average American family uses 320 gallons of water per day, about 30 percent of which is devoted to outdoor uses. More than half of that outdoor water is used for watering lawns and gardens. Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for nearly one-third of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day. (www.usgs.gov)
I’ve caught myself keeping water running through the RainWand™ while I move from container to container. This is wasteful and I’m ashamed when I catch myself doing that. It’s easy to give the plants the amount they need while still conserving water.
HERE ARE A FEW SIMPLE WAYS TO WATER WISELY:
1. Be aware. Be conscious of your watering style/habits.
2. Have a good quality shut-off at the end of your garden hose. Our Dramm heavy-duty brass shut-off, above, glides on and off easily and comfortably.
3. A quality RainWand™ like this Dramm One-Touch RainWand™ disperses the water well and has an ergonomic shut-off right on the handle. This gives the ability to comfortably control the water quickly and easily; therefore saving the water you may have wasted in-between garden areas.
4. Read the plant’s tag or seed packet instructions before you plant. You’ll get an idea of exactly how much water specific plants need, avoiding over watering.
5. Use a water timer when using a sprinkler for garden beds. The timer will automatically shut off the water flow at the point you choose.
6. Try to water early in the morning.
7. If your home space permits, collect rainwater in a rain barrel and reuse.
Even a little water saved each week is conservation!
Best wishes,
Heidi Dramm Becker