Ways of Watering an Eco-Garden

There are many different types of ways of watering an eco-garden, each method having its own purpose. The most popular way of watering a garden is to use a sprinkler or a garden hose. These methods do however, require that you keep on top of the water level in order to avoid the problem of run-off. This will result in dead grass and can harm your plants.

1. Deciding the Best Way of Watering

Other factors that must be considered when deciding on the best way of watering a garden are the soil condition and fertility. Soil fertility is determined by elements such as pH level, amount of water, and fertilizer needed. A gardener should consider testing their soil to find out if it is in good condition. With regards to irrigation systems, a change in the soil, water conditions, and fertility can be the cause of a more expensive irrigation system than one that is working properly. Soil testing can be done on a small scale to determine if your garden needs recharging with water or not.

2. Types of Watering Systems

When thinking about ways of watering an eco-garden, a gardener should consider whether or not they are using a drip system or a regular watering system. Both methods can be successful; however, they require different amounts of water.

2.1 Regular Watering

Regular watering requires more water and requires the gardener to water the entire plant with more water than the recommended amount each day.

2.2 Drip System

A drip system allows the gardener to water only a portion of the garden at any given time. For plants that do not need frequent watering, it is recommended that they be watered once each week, with extra water for the days that they require more water.

3. Rainwater

One more way of watering is using rainwater. Rainwater is the perfect way to water a plant because the water is free and the plant receives all the nutrients that it needs. If you live in an area where you get regular rain, this is the perfect way to water your plants. You can either water the plant directly with the water collected from the rain or just use granular activated carbon (GAC), a substance that is mixed with water to absorb contaminants before they have a chance to enter the vegetable. Both methods are effective and work equally well.

4. Sprinkler

One of the common ways of watering an eco-garden is the use of a sprinkler. Good quality sprinkler heads should be used to water small patches of land. If possible, it is a good idea to place the head of the sprinkler far enough away from the plants that no live organisms will come into contact with it. The rainwater that is collected will contain nutrients for the plants and will help them grow. However, there are many sprinkler heads that can be purchased in your local home improvement store that will allow you to water large areas of land without having to worry about run-offs.

5. Natural Water Collecting System

Another alternative is to use natural water. You can use rainwater to water your eco-garden. A natural water collecting system is not as effective as other methods, but they are less harmful to the environment and will also save you money. Collecting natural water is quite easy; it just requires digging and placing buckets underneath the soil.

6. Hoses

You can also use a simple garden hose to water your garden. These hoses are usually made of PVC pipe and do not have any type of filtration system. They are ideal for watering a small garden, but will not keep the soil moist, so it will require you to apply water detergent to get the soil moist.

7. Automated Sprinkler

A more serious way of watering is using an automated sprinkler. This is best suited for larger gardens or if you are attempting to keep the plant completely hydrated. An automatic irrigation system is powered by a generator that is connected to a timer. Once the timer goes off, the generator will turn on and start spraying water at a predetermined rate. They are quiet to operate and require very little maintenance, so they are worth the cost.

8. Saving Water at Night

One way to save water is to water your garden at night. Just before going to bed, turn off your lights. This allows you to water more efficiently. Also, consider using accessories that will allow you to water your garden at various times of the day. For example, an attached sprinkler head makes it easy to water your garden in the morning hours without having to move around too much.