| Gardening in areas where there is little rain | | | | |
| or rationed water can be challenging and | | | | Adding a layer of mulch to your garden helps |
| difficult. There are ways however to make the | | | | retain the moisture content of your soil. The |
| most of what water or rainfall you have. This | | | | mulch effectively insulates the soil and |
| is done by finding ways to use your available | | | | improves the quality of your soil. The mulch |
| home tools to minimize water loss from your | | | | will eventually decompose and add to the |
| garden or by maximizing the use of the water | | | | organic content of the soil, making it richer |
| you have. | | | | and more able to support healthier plants as |
| | | | well as retain more moisture, which in turn |
| Maximizing the use of water: | | | | requires less watering. |
| | | | |
| The first step would be to invest in a good | | | | By adding minerals and soil additive you can |
| water hose. Regularly check you water hoses | | | | improve the quality of your soil. Test your |
| and make sure the washers are properly | | | | soil then add to it what it is lacking. |
| installed to minimize water loss. Cheap hoses | | | | Increasing the organic matter in your soil |
| normally do not last long and spring leaks | | | | allows it to retain water longer. Make sure |
| often especially if left in the hot sun. | | | | you have the right garden home tools for the |
| Cheap hoses are difficult to coil and store | | | | job. |
| and are subject to kinking, making them | | | | |
| extremely inefficient. Purchase a reasonably | | | | Set up rainwater collection systems in your |
| priced rubber hose as vinyl hoses do not last | | | | backyard or around your house. Use this water |
| long. A variety of garden hoses are available | | | | to water your planters and pots. Using your |
| at stores that sell garden home tools. | | | | home tools, you could install hoses to your |
| | | | water collecting system and have a soaker |
| If you don't have time to water or have a | | | | hose water irrigation system set up. |
| bigger budget, consider installing a soaker | | | | |
| hoses irrigation system. This may be a simple | | | | Another thing to take into consideration is |
| weekend project with the right home tools. | | | | the type of plants in your garden. Choose |
| The irrigation system will save you a lot of | | | | plants that are suitable to your climate. |
| time and water. The holes in hoses can be | | | | Study your weather and know your gardening |
| directed to areas where the water is needed | | | | zones well. Trying to grow plants from |
| at the base of the plant. This will reduce | | | | outside your gardening zone may require |
| the amount of water lost to evaporation and | | | | excessive watering but if you choose plants |
| run off. | | | | that can adapt to a drier environment and do |
| | | | not require frequent watering, you will be |
| It is however essential that you check your | | | | rewarded with plants that thrive. |
| system regularly for holes or any other | | | | |
| damage that would hinder your efficiency. | | | | By treating water as an important and |
| Choosing the best time of day to water can | | | | valuable commodity and using some imagination |
| also help with your water conservation. Water | | | | and the right home tools, you can have |
| at night is not the most efficient as this | | | | beautiful and lush garden in areas that |
| leads to mildews and fungi potentially | | | | experience drought. Even in areas that ration |
| infecting your plants. The best time to water | | | | water in the summer months. |
| is during the early morning hours. | | | | |