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Tips to Use Less Water in your Thriving Organic Food Garden

Water is arguably our most precious resource.kinds are safer) or newspaper. This also
All living things need water to survive. Butprevents  soil  erosion.
we don't just want our productive organic
food gardens to survive, we want them to3. Use drip irrigation - preferably under the
thrive! And a growing plant uses a lot moremulch or soil surface. There are purpose made
water than one that is just surviving. Everyrecycled hoses available now that are perfect
part of the plant growing process uses water.for the job. You can save up to 90% by using
drip  irrigation  rather  than  a  sprinkler.
When plants start to become dehydrated they
stop photosynthesising, close their stomata,4. Only water when it is needed and as much
stop taking in nutrients and stop growing. Itas is needed. If you're not sure, try the
can take a few days for some plants tofinger test. Yes - poke your finger into the
recover even if there has been no tissuesoil to see if it is moist or dry. Make sure
damage. So it is vitally important not to letthe water penetrates as deep as the roots,
your plants become dehydrated (just likebut it's a waste to water any deeper than
yourself).that.
Not enough water can kill or stunt your5. If you live where summers are really hot,
plants. Sometimes mild water stress can be aplant crops under partial shade. It could be
good thing, as it encourages plants to sendshade from a pergola or tall plants such as
their roots down deeper into the soil, makingsweet  corn.
them more drought tolerant. The aim is to use
as little water as possible without causingThese are simple methods to reduce your water
stress.consumption. You could also consider
collecting your own water. If we all had
Ways  to  use  less  waterrain-water tanks attached to our houses it
would not only give us clean, free water, but
1. Create soils that are made up of humus andwould reduce the amount of water that ends up
organic matter. These soils can hold lots ofin our storm water drains. It is also much
water and plants can easily draw it up. Itbetter for food gardens as mains water is
has great water-holding capacity as well asoften  high  in salts, chlorine and fluoride.
having  a  high  nutrient  content.
Re-use of "grey" water is also another way to
2. Mulch the soil surface. This reducesreduce how much water we consume. It can be
evaporation, keeping the underlying soilused on lawns and other plants in the garden
moist for longer. Any mulch is better than nothat are not for food production.
mulch, even if it's underfelt (the older



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