THREE WATER-WISE GARDEN HACKS

The garden is the home’s largest consumer of water.

- —James A. Baggett

So, as a savvy gardener, water conservation—no matter where you live—should be a concern. A well-designed, water-wise landscape that incorporates water-saving devices and techniques can still be a lush and inviting space without wasting water. Here are a handful of water-smart garden hacks that will get you through the summer with minimal irrigation—and are guaranteed to make your life easier. Each of these tips is sure to save time (by watering more efficiently), money (on monthly water bills and maintenance) and, of course, our precious water.

# 1 HARVEST & STORE RAINWATER

Rainwater harvesting can be as simple as installing a rain barrel under a gutter coming off a roof. It can be expanded to include a cistern to handle overflow. The only thing that differs between the two is the scale of the system. They both follow the same principles. A large system just captures water from more than one source.

There are a variety of commercially available rain barrels in a wide range of sizes, shapes and styles. Most have a 100-gallon capacity, but larger versions (up to 500 gallons) are available. Look for one with an overflow valve (it kicks in when the barrel reaches capacity) and a mesh screen filter to keep out residue. Remember, a rain barrel will be outside during all sorts of weather, from baking sun to thunderstorms to freezing ice and snow. Heavy-duty molded plastics, such as resin, can withstand the elements and won't crack, peel or rot.

Cisterns hold a higher volume of water and are a good choice for climates with infrequent rainfall. A house, garage and outbuildings can all feed into a single large (underground) cistern. Cisterns are, of course, more expensive, and keep in mind that the storage tanks must be placed next to the house, whether they are above or below ground.