Sensible watering during a drought

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Who doesn’t relish in that little rainbow from the spray of the garden hose? It’s one of the simple joys of gardening. . . ’till the man says I gotta put the hose up due to drought. Dang it.

Then my watering chores are all about priority. Firstly, my potted annuals get water since they’re the first to dry out in this weather. Save water and time by use a slow drip “aquaglobe” or similar device.

Second, if I had some, would be veggies. Consistent moisture will be important for tomato growers while the peppers can stand a little heat – again, priorities.

Trees and shrubs, especially as they are establishing that first and second season need at least an inch of water a week. To achieve this simply lay the hose on a slow stream at the base of the plant and walk away for 20 to 30 minutes. You’d be surprised how much water a plant doesn’t get by showering it with a water wand or sprinkler. And an evergreen need not be hit by repetitive sprinkling, anyway. Please.

Perennials should be mulched up to two inches to keep moisture consistent. A little wilting here and there won’t hurt established perennials. And the money to replace them is not what it would be for our trees and shrubs.

Slow drip irrigators such as the Treegator are great for establishing trees and shrubs and they make a low profile model to fit under evergreens or around shrubs. Simply fill with water and walk away. Check your local garden center, Salsbery Brothers in Carmel keeps them in stock.

Until the man lifts the ban, I have to do my part to keep things in check and still enjoy gardening. The only thing left to do is grow cacti, I suppose. And somehow that just doesn’t seem like much fun.


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