Saving water in the garden
1. Mulch the soil surface
Mulching the soil with such material as bark chippings, grass cuttings, leafmould, sheets of newspaper straw etc, will help to prevent water loss and has the added benefit of also suppressing weeds. Before applying the mulch ensure that the area is free of weeds, the soil is moist (if not apply water) and warm.
2. Remove weeds
Weeds compete with your plants for moisture in the soil so by removing them you are leaving more water resources for your plants.
3. Wind Breaks
Wind can dry out both the soil and the plant leaves so by providing wind breaks you can reduce the amount of water loss.
4. Shade
Again by providing shade you are reducing the amount of water loss from the soil.
5. Avoid Digging
Avoid digging during hot weather as this significantly increases the amount of water loss from the soil.
6. Improve your soil
By adding well rotten manure / garden compost to you soil you improve it's ability to hold water and hence avoid water run-off.
7. Reduce Evaporation
Reduce evaporation by water early in the morning or late at night
8. Water the Soil.
Water the soil directly and not the plants, this lets the water get into the soil quickly and so reduces water loss to evaporation from the leaves etc.
9. Collect as much Rain Water as possible.
10. Soak the soil when you do water
By soaking the soil when you water, more of the water will get down into the soil before it has a chance to evaporate.