Water-wise - keeping gardens watered in summer
Mid-summer is a relaxing time in the garden. Everything has settled into a constant growth pattern and there’s an overall sense of calm after the flurry of spring growth and manic planting – not to mention festive fever! Watering is the most essential chore, but hand-watering the entire garden can be very time consuming. When time is of the essence, it’s good to have a reliable watering device to take care of the job. But with so many options, what do you choose?
HAND-WATERING
This is the best way to keep in touch with the garden and its state of health. It allows you to water only those areas that need it and watch for insect pests or plants that need fertilising or staking. I like using a spray gun with a shower head, which delivers a large amount of water, soaking the soil thoroughly but gently enough not to harm delicate foliage. Short-handled multi-spray guns offer a variety of spray patterns, from a powerful jet for cleaning chores, to a gentle shower for watering and a mist spray for seedlings. The long-reach lance spray is my favourite. It offers shower-watering and an aerated “champagne” flow, which delivers high-volume water without disturbing the soil. It’s fantastic for watering hanging baskets and tender veges, plus reaching into the back of deep borders.
IN-GROUND IRRIGATION
When properly installed, an in-ground irrigation system will deliver water exactly where it’s required – instead of onto paths and decks! Starter kits are well priced and provide enough hose and components to set up a good chunk of garden. Take the time to plan the system thoroughly, according to the packet instructions. Determining your water pressure and using the correct sprinkler heads and spacing are prime considerations. Drip irrigation systems are a good option if you have a lot of containers.
SPRINKLERS
A good sprinkler to take care of the watering work is essential when there’s no time for hand watering. Economic dial sprinklers offer a range of spray patterns to suit all watering needs. With an average coverage of around 10m2, they’re a good choice for small gardens. Oscillating sprinklers, such as Hozelock’s Aquastorm 15, can be adjusted to water a narrow strip or a large area up to 180m2. They are designed to provide 100% even coverage regardless of water pressure and are the best choice for large lawns and gardens. On a sloping garden, I would opt for the Aquastorm 360°. It adjusts to a 20m-diameter circle or semi-circle and is mounted on a solid metal spike that won’t fall over on an incline.
SOAKER HOSES
Porous soaker hoses are ideal to thread through garden beds where they deliver a gentle seepage directly over plant root zones – without the effects of spray drift or evaporation. They also water the soil, not the leaves, helping prevent disease and increasing ambient humidity, which is excellent for subtropical gardens.
RAIN HARVESTING
In my case, the cost of installing a 500-litre water tank to harvest rain water for use on the garden would equate to half my annual water bill. That’s a worthwhile consideration, but not one I’ve had time to fully investigate! Visit www.tanksalot.co.nz or the main hardware suppliers for the many options available.
HOT TIPS
Install a water tank to collect rainwater for use on your garden, and collect excess shower and bath water in buckets to use outdoors.
- Denise Cleverley
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