SEO keyword: drought-tolerant gardening
Title: Drought-Tolerant Gardening – Conserving Water | Boston Bulbs
Meta description: When it comes to conserving water you can still have a vibrant, colourful garden. Read our latest blog all about drought-tolerant gardening.
Image alt tag: Conserving Water While Gardening – Boston Bulbs
Gardening provides us with calm, clarity and a sense of achievement as we watch our plants and bulbs flower. However, recent summers in the UK, including here in Lincolnshire, have seen much drier and hotter conditions than normal. This has meant we have had to adapt our gardens to withstand this drought and toughen our plants up slightly. In this latest blog, we explore some of the key ways in which you can keep your garden hydrated all year round, while conserving water and keeping your plants vibrant and healthy.
Why Conserving Water Matters
Water is a precious resource, and a few summers ago we were even faced with a hosepipe ban across many parts of the UK! A traditional garden with lots of grass and plants may not cope well with extended dry spells. It is time to consider being more water-efficient, as well as selecting hardier plants to reduce the need to regularly water your garden.
Drought-tolerant gardening doesn’t mean that you have to lose the vibrancy of your garden, it is just about picking alternative plants that can withstand drier conditions. Let’s have a look at how you can make a difference with drought-tolerant gardening.
1. Choose Drought-Resistant Plants
The most important thing you can review in your garden to help save water is the plants you choose to grow. Some plants naturally require less water and conserve moisture themselves to help them withstand periods of drought. Here are a few choices:
- Agapanthus: these are hardy perennials that also add a splash of colour to your garden.
- Alliums: these are also hardy and can withstand dry periods, as they have deep roots that help them reach any moisture in the soil.
- Fritillaria: these bulbs are very adaptable to various soil conditions, including dry areas.
- Scilla: these are hardy and adapt well to dry conditions, particularly when planted in well-drained soils.
2. Improve Soil Health
Healthy soil is important in any garden, and when it comes to drought-tolerant gardening soil can make all the difference. Well-draining soil allows water to penetrate the soil and therefore reduces runoff and wasted water.
A great way to improve soil quality is by adding organic matter such as manure or compost as these help the soil’s ability to retain moisture. Mulching is an alternative method as this helps to add a protective layer to the soil, reducing the evaporation of water.
3. Use Water-Efficient Irrigation Techniques
Overwatering is one of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to looking after their gardens. Not only does this waste water, but also leads to shallow root systems – plants are unable to fend for themselves during drier periods.
Rather than hosing or using sprinklers in your garden, consider a drip irrigation system that delivers water directly to the roots of the plants. Remember to water in the early morning or late afternoon too, once the sun is no longer over your garden.
4. Adapt Your Lawn
A lush lawn is something we all aspire to have in our garden, but this does take up a lot of water. You may notice in the hot summer months that your lawn becomes brown and patchy due to a lack of water. Reducing the size of your lawn by adding drought-resistant alternatives can help with this. For example, replacing traditional turf with drought-tolerant grass including fescue works really well. Mowing time is also reduced, giving you more time to do the things you love in the summer months.
5. Capture & Store Rainwater
One of the easiest ways to conserve water is to capture and store natural rainwater. The best way to do this is by installing a water butt to collect water that runs off your roof, then use this to irrigate your garden. Using rainwater to keep your garden hydrated is not only eco-friendly but also beneficial to your plants as rainwater doesn’t have the chemicals in it that tap water does.
Conserving water in your garden doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on bright, flowering plants, it just needs a little extra consideration. By embracing the tips we have included in this blog, you can protect your garden and conserve water too!
For advice on selecting the best flower bulbs for your gardening project, contact our knowledgeable team at Boston Bulbs on 01775 769333, or email sales@bostonbulbswholesale.co.uk. We have a wide range of bulbs available, with options to suit both novice and avid gardeners.
The Boston Bulb Company has over 40 years of experience in supplying only the finest quality horticultural products from farmers and growers throughout the UK and Europe.