Caring for Your Garden During a Drought

Caring for Your Garden

during a drought... by Margaret DeStefano

So many areas are experiencing drought during this time, including the Central Coast. Here are a few things you can do to help:

Re-Purpose Wasted Kitchen Water: Instead of letting the water run down the drain, collect the water for your thirsty plants. You can also use water that was used for boiling food (unsalted) but be sure to let it cool first. Consider placing bins or buckets near your shower so you can collect water that would otherwise go down the drain. Mulch the Soil: It will help the soil retain more water rather than allowing the sun to dry it out. Try a variety of organic materials for mulching, including straw, newspaper, grass clippings and wood chips. When done right, mulch can minimize weed growth and increase your yield too. Use Soaker Hoses: If water conservation restrictions aren’t preventing you from using city water in your garden, soaker hoses are great. They slowly drip moisture into dry soil, making sure that water gets into the soil and plant roots rather than running off where you don’t need it. If you have an old hose you’re not using, just poke small holes every six inches and attach a hose cap to the open end to block the water flow. This design will allow the water to drip out evenly. Be sure not to make the holes too large.