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Conscientious Gardening and Water Conservation
by Jack Russell , Russell ’ s Garden Center , Wayland , MA via the plant ’ s roots . Water retention by the soil becomes imperative as the time between rain events gets stretched farther apart . Adding compost to the garden soil and mixing it well into all layers prior to planting will greatly improve the soil ’ s water holding capabilities . This , in turn enhances additional water conservation efforts that encourage plants to establish deeper root systems , particularly by watering plants deeply but less frequently .
Drought used to be thought of as an issue for growers in other regions of the country rather than for those in New England . We used to average 50 inches of rain in this region annually ; irrigation used to be an option – not a necessity . Regardless of the reasons , the last 3 years of little rain has now taught growers in the Boston area that we need to start gardening more conscientiously .
So what can we do to conserve ? Go back to the basics : put the right plant in the right place , use more native plant species , and plant drought resistant varieties . And the common thread for all of these planting strategies is to improve the soil and decrease our water usage .
The first step should be testing the soil ’ s pH . If the pH in the soil does not match the needs of your plants , absorption of soil nutrients by the plant is greatly hampered or doesn ’ t happen . For example , if the current soil conditions are acidic ( less than 7 on the pH scale ), then an acid-loving plant will thrive in that location , but an alkaline-soil loving plant will not .
There are simple and inexpensive soil test kits available at most garden centers . If you are looking for more in-depth data , you can send a soil sample to your local Extension service , instructions can be found on their website . Once you have the results of your soil test in hand , you can adjust the pH or nutrient levels of the soil with natural additives found at your local garden center .
Soil pH is important for the absorption of nutrients by plants , but water is the life “ blood ” to transport those nutrients
What types of additional conservation efforts are we talking about ? Primarily the method of watering plants , once installed . Sprayed water , as from sprinklers , increases evaporation as well as water lost to wind drift . Water sitting on the plant ’ s foliage can also increase the risk of fungal infection to the plants . Water sprayed on the soil surface between plants may provide moisture for weed germination or insect infestation .
So , the last suggested ingredient to this recipe for conscientious gardening and to follow community water restriction guidelines is to get the water down low into the soil efficiently , without overhead spraying . My advice is to hand water individual plants and containers ; it ’ s a great way to relax and enjoy your outdoor planters . Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation for larger garden areas . Soaker hoses , properly placed , provide water between the plants while saving as much as 70 % of the water usage compared to sprinklers . Using a drip irrigation system , this water savings can be as high as 90 % - a savings not only for the environment but for your wallet as well . Again , your local garden shop ’ s staff will be able to advise you on equipment and best practices .
Grow on , rain or shine !
6 GROW ! BOSTON