America is about to have a hot summer: the NOA’s Climate Prediction Center states that temperatures in the US will be above average until June 2020. Not only will families be feeling the heat of the summer months, but gardens all over the country will also need more water in order to flourish. While homeowners are expected to conserve water in the upcoming weeks, it’s important to ensure that your vegetable beds and flowering plants are still getting enough water to get through the summer months. Thankfully, there are ways to ensure the health of your plants without turning on the sprinkler or using the garden hose. Here are a few eco-friendly ways to water your organic garden.
Use fish tank water to water your plants
If you own a fish tank, don’t throw out the old water when you’re cleaning the tank or aquarium. Instead, transfer it to a bucket and use it to water your plants. Dirty aquarium water may be harmful to pet fish, but it’s extremely beneficial to indoor plants and organic gardens as it contains nitrates that can help plants to grow. Using aquarium water is also a safer way to fertilize your garden as it contains no chemicals that may find their way into drainage systems and waterways. By doing so, you’re able to maintain the health and beauty of your plants without harming the ocean and aquatic life.
Catch rainwater
Rainwater can be used for anything from watering your organic garden to washing your car, so place a few oversized barrels around your outdoor space to catch rainwater during downpours. Cover the barrels with wire mesh screens to keep out dirt and debris; then position them under sloping roofs, downspouts, and gutters to catch rainwater. After it rains, empty the contents of each barrel into a water storage tank, and make sure that it’s covered to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the tank.
Water your plants early in the morning
It may seem like a good idea to water your plants at high noon, which is the hottest part of the day. But if you want to conserve water, then consider watering your organic garden between 6 and 8am every day. Doing so will reduce evaporation and will ensure that all your vegetable crops and flowering plants get the water that they need to sustain them throughout the day.
Collect gray water
Collecting gray water inside the home is another way to ensure that your organic garden gets an ample supply of water during the hot summer months. Use a basin whenever you’re washing fruits and vegetables; then once that’s done, carefully pour the water into a bucket so you can use that to water your plants. You can also collect all the leftover water in drinking glasses after every meal. If you plan to recycle your bathwater to water your garden, don’t use bubble baths or oils – instead, mix a handful of Epsom salt into your bathwater before relaxing in the tub. Epsom salt can help to soothe a gardener’s aching muscles, and it’s also beneficial to your garden, as it can help flowering plants to bloom.
Don’t let the hot summer months stop you from watering your garden. Try these eco-friendly ways to keep your organic garden green and healthy, and see how much water you can conserve by trying these helpful hacks.
Author: Jenny Holt
Jennifer Holt is a freelance writer and mother of two, who loves nothing more than to play, “where has the cat hidden itself now.”
