I don’t know about you, but I was really pleased to get rained on last weekend. It had been hot and dry in Wellington for too long. I’m one of those people who actually likes it being a bit cooler, and I certainly don’t mind a bit of rain. I know my garden appreciated it.
I was visiting a friend’s place on Friday afternoon about 4pm. It was still hot and it annoyed me to see a sprinkler going on someone’s back lawn. Well, it wasn’t even on the lawn really, it seemed most of the water was going onto the driveway and down into the drain.
Watering when it is still hot it is actually harmful to the plants and can cook them. I’ve heard that cutting your lawn less often in the summer makes it stay greener – can anyone back me up on that one?
I try to reduce my water use AND keep my plants alive by restricting how often I water them to three times a week. I use my watering can and it takes three trips from the tap to the fifteen odd plants I have in pots or tiny sections of “garden” (rather than the miniscule, overgrown lawn). I soak them at about six or seven in the evening (I do it earlier in the winter and I don’t water them as much, especially the frost sensitive ones!).
Other ways that I’m trying to save water at the moment include – limiting my showers to five minutes per day (I have to admit I cheat and have three minute showers on non-hair washing days and seven minute showers when it’s time to wash my hair), turning the tap off while I’m brushing my teeth, shaving my legs with a bit of water in the basin rather than doing it in the shower and washing my dishes in the sink only once a day (okay, that might just be laziness).
For more information on conserving water have a look at the following links:
What things to do you guys do to save water?
Comments
I keep a large plastic bowl under the sink and wash my dishes in that if I don't have too many at once. It keeps my neat-freak partner happy because the dishes don't stacjk up all day, and uses a fraction of the water we would use if we filled the sink.
Submitted by Lindis on 12 February 2008 16:31:16
I also have a fish tank. When it's water-changing time I syphon the water from the tank straight out the window and onto the garden. Saves me lugging buckets and (I hope) the nutrients from the bottom of the tank are doing the plants some extra good.
Submitted by Lindis on 12 February 2008 16:32:59
Those are good ideas, Lindis :)
I read a newspaper article online about a Hamilton couple who came up with a great way of conserving water in response to the local sprinkler ban. They've started piping the used water from their washing machine onto their vege garden. As they use eco-friendly detergent it won't contaminate the garden.
They estimate that they're saving about 120L of water per wash from going down the drain. The water is collected in a barrel outside the laundry, where it is then piped onto the garden. They're happy with the set up and will continue to use it even after the ban has been lifted.
Pretty cool, I thought!
Submitted by Sarah on 14 February 2008 13:48:28