by Birgitt Evans, ABG Board member and Master Gardener
You may not realize that California is in the second year of a fairly severe drought, well, because no one is talking about it. As of this writing, we have received 7.6 inches of rain, a fraction of the 20 inches we usually receive in a year and there is no rain in sight. Soil moisture levels are frighteningly low for early April and trees are sucking up as much moisture as they can. It is time to take action to keep our plants healthy while using as little water as possible this summer. Here are just a few ideas for doing that.
Save Household Water to Water Your Containers
Add a dishpan to your kitchen sink and a bucket to your shower and collect all the water that is wasted waiting for water to heat up or used washing vegetables, rinsing the coffee pot or cooking pasta. Carry it out to easy-to-access plants on your deck or patio. Household water could completely eliminate the need for extra irrigation for container plants.
Install a Greywater System
Did you know that you can divert all of your washing machine, bathroom sink, tub and shower water to your garden? You will need to install a diverter to send water to a system of one inch tubing with ½ inch outlets in your garden during the dry months and back to the sewer during wet months. You should not use water that has come in contact with feces or store greywater. You will need to use biodegradable soaps that are salt and boron free and you should minimize direct contact with greywater. Depending upon how many people there are in your household, greywater could provide a substantial amount of your landscape water. For lots of examples and detailed instructions on creating a greywater system, visit GreywaterAction.org.
Install a Simple Drip Irrigation System
An irrigation system can be as complex or as simple as you like and it can be designed to deliver water in zones so that thirsty veggies get more water than drought tolerant natives. See Margie Siegal’s article on drip irrigation.
Use a Timer
Whether you have a drip system or a sprinkler on a hose, a timer will control the amount of water your plants get and keep you from walking away and forgetting to turn off the water. You can get a simple minute timer that you twist to turn on, a simple programmable timer or a complex timer that can be programmed for different zones and for different amounts of time on different days. Whichever way you go, your plants and your water bill will thank you.
Apply Mulch to Most Soil Surfaces to Retain Water
Although it is important to leave some soil uncovered for ground nesting bees, covering your soil is a great way to conserve soil moisture, build soil and keep it cool in summer heat. You can use a variety of mulches from paper mulches to straw to leaves to shredded mixes. Ideally, you want commercial mulches that contain different sized pieces which lock together and which contain wood rather than bark.
The popular fir bark mulches, even undyed, present problems because bark contains chemicals to protect the tree which can leach into your soil. And bark is designed to resist rot, so it doesn’t break down and feed the soil. In addition, the same sized pieces don’t hold together and tend to wash or be blown away and require replacing.
Add Compost to Your Soil
How many ways is compost good for your soil? Not only does it help build soil, feed microorganisms and improve tilth, it also increases a soil’s water holding capacity. According to the National Resources Defense Council, “Each 1 percent increase in soil organic matter helps soil hold 20,000 gallons more water per acre.” That’s a significant amount of water. So make sure that you add compost every time you plant a new crop.
Pull Weeds
What can I say? Those weeds are sucking moisture out of the soil that your plants need. Pull them out now and save the water for the plants you really want to thrive.
Install Water Tanks to Capture Rainwater
One inch of rain on a 1,000 square foot roof will generate 600 gallons of runoff. That’s a lot of water, and rainwater harvesting has moved way beyond 55 gallon barrels that are dry by May. New slimline rainwater tanks can hold 6 – 800 gallons and fit under the eaves along the side of the house, providing irrigation well into the summer. You will need a first flush diverter to ensure that dirty water doesn’t fill the tank with sediment and tanks will need to be bolted to the house. Stay tuned. ABG hopes to have a class on water tanks in August to introduce people to their benefits.
With a little attention and ingenuity, the home gardener can save a considerable amount of water and keep the garden growing strong and healthy through this drought.