An hour in the garden 69 - things to do in an arid garden

Hello and welcome to An Hour in the Garden no 69

Ways of saving water in an arid garden

This week we look a little at two plants in the cottage garden that we used to cultivate and no longer do - nettles (Urtica dioica) and dandelion, (Taraxicum officianale).

Nettles were used for food and rope making and even clothing. Dandelion is a brilliant tonic and helpf with so many problems, especially urinary ones, but can also help with fever. HOWEVER - please don't diagnose or treat yourself! See a doctor!

We had some great pics from Betty Grindod in northern USA. She has such a wonderful garden, I am so jealous! She certainly puts me to shame. You can see them at www.kitchennewbie.com and click on the Garden Newbie link.

Please do send us your garden pics and tell us what you are doing in the garden. You can email us at paul@kitchennewbie.com

Saving water in times of drought

Improve your soil

This is by far the best way of making your garden dry proof. Lots of organic material acts as a sponge, keeping water in the soil.

Water appropriately

Sandy soil needs more water, large plants need more water, don't soak the leaves, but water of the soil

Collect water - rain water especially, but use household (grey) water, especially on your flower beds

Concentrate on pots and containers
These run dry much more quickly than plants in beds.

Mulching
Use appropriately, it keeps the evaporation down to a minimum and suppresses weed growth

Reduce leaf area
Taking away large leaves reduces evaporation, so taking a few out will save water

Reduce fertilizer
This will keep the plant from growing too much, so it will evaporate water less

Weeding
I know it's hot, but removing weeds and this will take away some evaporating pressure

Grow native and / or drought tolerant plants
If your garden is populated with plants that are not evolved for the environment, it may be better with plants more used to such conditions

Hoeing water
In certain circumstances, hoeing round plants can bring water from deep in the soil to the root level of pants

A compost plug
In a clay soil create a plug of compressed compost in an hole and this will slowly draw water from the clay level