Dealing with Drought in the Garden
Introduction
When the weather gets hot and dry, our gardens can suffer. But there are things we can do to help our plants survive.
Conserving Water
One of the most important things we can do is conserve water. This means watering our plants less often, but more deeply. We can also mulch around our plants to help keep the soil moist.
Choosing Drought-Tolerant Plants
Another way to save water is to choose plants that are drought-tolerant. These plants are naturally adapted to dry conditions and don’t need as much water.
Watering Techniques
When we do water our plants, it’s important to do it effectively. This means watering at the base of the plant, where the roots are. We should also water early in the morning or late in the evening, when the sun is less intense.
Weeding
Weeds compete with our plants for water, so it’s important to keep up with weeding. This will help ensure that our plants get the water they need.
Holiday-Proofing
If we’re going on vacation, we need to make sure our plants will be taken care of. We can ask a neighbor to water them, or we can install an automatic watering system.
Preparing for Future Droughts
If we’ve been caught off guard by drought in the past, we can take steps to prepare for future droughts. This includes saving rainwater, mulching our gardens, and choosing drought-tolerant plants.
By following these tips, we can help our gardens survive even the driest conditions.
