Sustainable Water Management

CONSERVING WATER IN THE GARDEN IS NOT ONLY ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BUT ALSO A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE GARDENING

It is getting to the time of year when the hot dry weather can be a problem for gardeners and with many regions already on drought alert it seemed timely to look at some solutions that will help to conserve water, keep your plants healthy and productive, and avoid using excessive water which is a precious resource. After the severe water shortages last year we all need to be preparing ourselves (and our gardens) for more of the same.

We have no mains water at Le Jardin Créatif, neither to the nursery nor the house. The house is fed from ground water via the well, but all the water that we use for the nursery is captured over the winter and stored in large containers. Having no mains water supply certainly makes you very careful about water use and we never water our garden or even the potager – except when we first plant something, when we water it in deeply. Occasionally, if something is really struggling in its first season, we may water again, but we use ‘grey’ water - this is water captured from the shower (we literally just put a bucket under the shower outlet) and all of our washing up water is used for our container plants.

Save Rain Water

We have no mains water at Le Jardin Créatif, neither to the nursery nor the house

It is surprising how much water you can capture off even a small roof and it is worth calculating how much you need so that you have sufficient storage to last the summer. If you choose the black ‘cuves’ rather than the white ones, they are less likely to develop algae because algae needs light to be able to photosynthesize and reproduce, so the black ones prevent this and it keeps the water fresh all summer. You can always paint, cover, or clad the water butts if you already have the white ones.

Even if you have a well, you should not use this water for the garden especially in the summer months; wells are simply bore holes that tap into the water table, they don’t actually hold water, and if your well is low then it is an indication that the

Caroline has been a lecturer in horticulture for 20 years and now runs a nursery and ‘garden craft’ courses in the Haute-Vienne at Le jardin créatif entire water table is very low. Accessing this resource is adding to the strain on farmers and on domestic water.

Always Water with Care

Avoid sprinkling water onto the leaves of your plants - they will not absorb the water and in fact if the plants are struggling because they are dry this can encourage diseases on the foliage such as

Le jardin mildew. Instead direct water to the roots, and it is much better to water deeply just occasionally than to sprinkle the surface every day as much of it will be lost to evaporation. It also encourages the roots to come up to the surface where they will dry out very quickly. Deep, occasional watering will encourage the roots to grow deep down where they will be cooler and can access any available groundwater. You can save time by using a ‘seeper’ hose (a porous hose pipe that oozes out water along its length). You can lay them out alongside rows of veg and around border plants. It directs water to the root zone and prevents evaporation. You can even set these on a timer.

At our nursery we specialise in perennials that tolerate the drought. We are open every Saturday from 10am - 4pm.

Timing

If possible water late in the evening just before dusk. As night falls the tiny stomatal pores on the leaves will closethis means that the plants will rehydrate thoroughly without losing any through transpiration. If you water during the day, much of it will be lost by evaporation from the soil surface and through transpiration via the stomatal pores so it is more efficient to do this in the evening allowing your plants to take up as much as possible.

Established plants that have been in the ground for more than a couple of years should not need watering. Only water if you start to see signs of stress in your plants (slight wilting at the tips).

Mulch

One of the other most effective things that you can do to conserve water is to mulch. Mulching covers the surface of the soil which helps to prevent evaporation, it keeps the roots cool which also reduces plant stress and if you use an organic mulch it will also add vital nutrients and boost the levels of beneficial biological activity such as earthworms and other friendly bacteria and fungi within the soil without having to dig. Mulch will also help to suppress weeds which will compete with your plants for water and it reduces maintenance too so you can spend more time enjoying the garden!

‘Loose’ mulches consist of a layer of material that you spread over the surface of the soil around the base of your plants (but not touching the crown or trunk). You need a good layer of the mulch in order for it to be effective in suppressing weed growth from below. You also need to make sure that pernicious and deep rooted perennial weeds are completely eradicated before applying the mulch because they can grow back through the loose layer. Most loose mulches will be ‘organic’ in so much that they are made up of a partially composted material that is usually of a plant-based origin. Materials such as composted green waste, composted bark, well-rotted manure, and properly composted garden waste are all highly beneficial for the plants and environmentally they are excellent too because they are recycled waste products which reduce landfill, boost soil carbon levels, add nutrients, and improve biological activity. They are often free or very inexpensive too. We use grass clippings which we have in abundance. We spread it thinly over our borders, around trees and fruit bushes, and veg plants, and it keeps the soil moist and friable, returns valuable nitrogen to the soil as it breaks down, and improves earthworm activity. You can add layers as they begin to decompose but spread them thinly (no more than 2-3 cm) each time. It may not look attractive at first but soon mellows and it is a brilliant way to manage waste and water ecologically.

Summary of things that you can do in the garden to reduce your water use;

1. Do not water your lawn, it will recover even if it looks brown and totally dead.

2. Do not use a sprinkler. They are not particularly efficient and can use up to 1000 litres of water an hour. Use seeper hoses instead, which can be hidden beneath the soil and deliver water droplets directly to plants' roots.

3. Water your garden during the early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler. This reduces evaporation rates and allows plants to absorb water before the heat of the day. Avoid watering on windy days to prevent water drift and wastage.

4. Encourage clover to grow in the lawn as it works symbiotically with the grass and helps to keep it green. Do not cut your grass too short or too frequently. (See article from July 2018 for more information about environmentally friendly lawns).

5. Choose plants that will tolerate drought and are suitable for the climate rather than plants that you are familiar with growing in England (we are specialising in drought-proof plants which are available to buy at our nursery).

6. Add plenty of well rotted organic matter to the soil before planting.

7. Avoid raised beds – these increase gravitational pull on the water in the soil and therefore drainage and they dry out more quickly

8. Use grey water from your baths, showers and washing up bowls rather than fresh water from the tap. To ensure the safety of your plants and soil, choose biodegradable and plant-friendly soaps and detergents for household use.

9. Organic mulches, such as wood chips, straw, or shredded bark, are excellent choices for retaining soil moisture. They create a protective layer on top of the soil, reducing evaporation and regulating soil temperature. Organic mulch also breaks down over

Water Shortages in Our Region

The French government has a system of alerts to warn of us of water shortages. Interactive maps are updated regularly showing which areas of the country are affected by low water reserves, with a key denoting the various levels. Full details are available at www. propluvia.developpementdurable.gouv.fr/propluvia.

Simply click on the map to select your area, or you can select from options on the drop-down menus.

Code Summary:

No code - No restrictions

Code 1 - (warning)

▪ Households and businesses are encouraged to reduce water usage, but it is not obligatory.

▪ Local and departmental authorities might share information on reducing water usage and managing drought conditions.

▪ The cleaning of roofs, pavements and facadesBanned except if done by a professional cleaning company

Code 2 - (alert)

▪ Possible bans on watering gardens, green spaces etc within certain hours

▪ Possible car wash ban during certain hours

▪ Limits could be imposed on the amount of water used to fill swimming pools

▪ Agricultural water use is banned between 11am-6pm

▪ Roofs, pavements, facadesCan only be done by a professional cleaning company