WATER wise

HOW TO MAKE EVERY DROP COUNT FOR YOUR GARDEN

A couple of decades ago, when I first started planting on my property, I would never have thought I’d be seriously considering saving the water from my shower to put on the garden. But now that climate change has denied the Far North any decent rain for weeks on end, desperate measures are called for – and not just for summer either.

There are heaps of ways to save water in the garden, and it’ll also save money and potentially the environment. Some of them might sound silly, but hey, every little bit helps, especially if you try these seven tips.

1 When you’re planting something new in the garden, try this: Dig a wide planting hole and line it with perforated polythene. Mix the soil you’ve dug out with some compost before putting it back in with the plant. The liner will slow down the rate at which the water drains, and help retain more moisture at the plant’s roots.