Summer irrigation – Guide to good practices

When the weather is nice, regular watering of the garden becomes necessary. From the lawn to the vegetable garden via the balcony, learn how to do it save water optimally.

Optimize water in the garden

Water is not an inexhaustible resource and is expensive. To save money there are simple ways to implement.

• Install one or more rainwater collectors so you have reserves all summer long. There are models with capacities from 100 to 500 litres. Some integrate very well into the decor, even participating in it. This is the case of the 2 in 1 kits which act both as a tank and which include a removable planter, amphorae or even storage boxes which perfectly imitate a cut stone wall.
• Invest in an automatic watering system which, although a little expensive to purchase, will pay for itself quickly as the water savings it allows are significant. Equipped with a timer that will activate watering at a specific time every day, you will be freed from the task of watering and your plants will take full advantage of it as the flow rate of the drippers can be adjusted according to each individual’s needs.
• Equip your gutters with collection taps, so you will collect all the rainwater that runs off your roof.
• Waterfall As night falls the plants will have time to benefit from the coolness of the earth during the night.

A green lawn

Getting a beautiful lawn without spending too much on irrigation is quite possible by respecting them some suggestions :

• Choose a grass blend suited to your climate and prefer drought-tolerant varieties in southern regions or if your lawn receives full sun.
• I prefer water very generously once a week deeply moisten the soil just a little each day. The roots will no longer stagnate in the superficial part of the soil and will be forced to seek water deeper, which will make them more resistant.
• In summer, do not mow the lawn too short. Adjust the cutting height between 6 and 8 cm so that your carpet is thick enough to provide shade to the ground, which will dry out less quickly.

They require fruit and vegetables from the garden frequent watering to ensure a good harvest, however it is always possible to be intelligent in spacing them.

• Install a dripping system at the foot of the plants. They will be watered at root level without losses and according to their actual needs.
• Prefer microporous hoses for watering long rows of vegetables.
• Cover the soil surface with a thick layer of mulch (at least 20 cm). Mulch helps reduce evaporation and therefore space out watering. By preventing the growth of weeds, it reduces their competition for water with vegetables.

On the balcony or terrace the pots are subject to the elements in summer which sometimes dry them out. To overcome this problem, there is some suggestions…

• Avoid terracotta pots, a porous material that promotes evaporation and which heats up more quickly in the sun. Choose other materials for your containers or place your plants in pots, taking care to install a bed of clay balls or gravel in the bottom to prevent the roots from swimming in the water and rotting.
• Mulch the surface of the mix to limit evaporation.
• Invest in vases for storing water which allow greater autonomy and limit irrigation work.