Another rainy day ,oh well we needed the rain. The ponds water level has gone down by at least a few feet since July. We never know how much rain we are going to get in a season,sometimes a lot and other times not so much. One thing is for certain,plants need water to survive. When not enough rain has fallen to supply the needs of the plants in your garden,you will need to supply enough water to keep the plants alive and thriving.Irrigation systems are one way to meet the need for adequate water.These systems can be expensive to install and maintain. In some areas ,the water meter needed to supply the system can be twice the price or more than the meter used to supply water for in home use. Then there is the cost of pipe ,fittings,glue, zone clock and the heads needed. The labor can be either contracted out ,or you can do it your self. Water is a valuable resource needed by all. There is a view by some,that this valuable resource must not be wasted on purely ornamental gardens and lawns. There are a few solutions to maintaining an adequate water supply for your plants without the added expense of installing an irrigation system. The first solution is to rip out all your plants and replace them with plastic versions. This solution is embraced by no one. We shall not give it any further thought. The second solution,and one that i like ... is to begin to use plants that require less water to maintain their health and beauty. Xeriscaping is the term used for landscaping with plants which require less water than traditional ornamentals. The term Xeriscape was coined by employees of the Denver Colorado water Department. The plants used in Xeriscaping have lower water needs ,but are not always native to the area in which they are being planted.This fact sets it apart from the term"Natural Landscape". A few examples of plants which can be used successfully in Xeriscaping are; most of the ornamental grasses like Pampas Grass,Maiden Grass,Crimson fountain grass and others. Creeping Junipers,Blue Pacific Juniper,Thrift,Mondograss,Common Perriwinkle,and St.Johnswort are only a few of the groundcovers used. Several small shrubs such as;compacta holly,creeping gardenia,and Japanese Barberry ,all are fine choices .Crape Myrtle,Goldenraintree,and Savannah holly are all excellent plants to choose. The list of suitable plants is quite large. The last solution this article will address is the use of Rain barrels. Rain Barrel systems capture the rainwater that falls on your rooftop and contains it for future use in the landscape. This is a very good solution for several reasons . Capturing the rain from your rooftop diverts water from the over loaded municipal storm drain system. The water that is diverted is Nitrogen -rich rainwater which is very good for your plants. The fact that less water is reaching the foundation area of your home,allows you to better control the moisture level there.The last reason we will mention is that while you are conserving a valuable natural resource,you are also saving money on your water bill. In conclusion,whichever solution you choose to implement, continue to love the garden experience in all its richness.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 22:55:51 +0000
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