The three C's of eco-gardening are:
1.Conserve water
2.Choose plants wisely
3.Compost garden and kitchen waste
How to reduce the need for water
There are several easy ways you can conserve water.
• Water early in the day or late at night so you lose as little water as possible to evaporation.
• Use soaker hoses instead of sprinklers or apply directly from a watering can. This waters root systems instead of plant leaves, where water will evaporate.
• Water deeply, but infrequently. This encourages roots to grow deeper, which better enables them to survive dry months.
• Mulch. Whether you use organic material or gravel, this helps soil retain moisture.
• Use rain barrels to catch runoff from your roof. You can run a soaker hose from the bottom of the barrel to irrigate a nearby section of your garden.
• Recycle "grey" water from your bath if you use biodegradable soap.
How to choose plants
Choosing the right plants and picking the right location for them is key to conserving water. Ask your gardening centre to help you select plants that won't need watering past the adolescent stage, when the root system is established. Perennials chosen carefully to suit the location and soil should be able to survive long dry periods without water.
Grass lawns are always thirsty, require significant weeding (or chemicals) to stay weed-free and are labour-intensive. If you plant ground covers that need less watering and less maintenance, you'll have more time to enjoy your garden.
Continued...
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