Maximum Yield Australia/New Zealand March/April 2019 | Page 48

“
Hard water
provides your
garden with
useful mineral
content and
doesn’t have
the excess
sodium
of treated
soft water.”
Soft water systems are often installed in areas where there is a high amount of minerals
in the water that may affect the plumbing, or simply because some people prefer the
taste and feel of soft water over hard water. It may not leave buildup or residue on your
fixtures and skin, but that does not mean soft water is good for your garden.
PROS AND CONS FOR GARDENING
The simple answer: Treated soft water has little to offer your garden except plant-kill-
ing sodium. Although only trace amounts of sodium are present in soft water, it can
build up over time in the soil. After enough builds up, the sodium causes your plants to
die of thirst. If you are worried this is the case now, you should leach your soil. This is
done by watering thoroughly and frequently, which basically washes away the sodium
buildup. However, you’ll also be washing away some nutrients and minerals that are
vital to your garden’s nourishment. If you leach your soil, make sure you replace the
mineral/nutrient content afterwards with an additive or fertiliser.
Hard water provides your garden with useful mineral content and doesn’t have
the excess sodium of treated soft water. Calcium and magnesium are vital to a
plant’s growth but can be harmful in large doses. Too much can cause chlorosis —
a yellowing of the leaves which is a symptom of sickness. To prevent sickness like
chlorosis, use a raised garden bed that provides better drainage. Excess minerals
will leach from the soil naturally, be rebalanced with the minerals in your hard water,
and your garden will be much happier.
WHICH SHOULD I USE FOR MY GARDEN?
This is a trick question because the best option for your garden isn’t hard water
or soft water, but rain water. Rain water, while technically soft water,
lacks the sodium of treated water and won’t lead to that excess mineral
build-up hard water can bring. Rain water is friendly to plants and,
conveniently, can be collected in rain barrels
for use in your garden. If you don’t want to
collect and use rain water, the next best
option for your garden is hard water.
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Maximum Yield