Responsible Garden Watering Techniques

Water conservation is a big issue, and not just in the drier parts of the world

. As such, gardeners, and more precisely, horticulturists that grow their own food supplies have to find ways to collect and use water more efficiently than ever. There are many garden watering methods that can be employed that use water wisely, but one of the most successful is irrigation systems. We take a look at how garden irrigation is used and why it is more effective than other ways of watering plants.

Traditionally, hoses and sprinkler systems, alongside watering cans, have been used in UK gardens to keep plants well hydrated and in tip top condition. However, in recent years, there has been growing concern over water wastage, water shortages and negative environmental impact from using high quality treated water for plants. Some of the ways that these problems have been addressed is by local water authorities introducing hose pipe bans and encouraging gardeners to use grey water.

Unlike most countries around the world, all the water supplies in the UK deliver drinking quality treated water, even for flushing the toilet. Other countries have a grey water supply, which is essentially treated water, but not drinking quality water for use in washing machines, baths, showers, and of course for flushing the loo. This means that when water is running short during a drought, a common occurrence in East Anglia for example, the first thing water authorities do is implement a hosepipe ban.

In this eventuality, gardeners are then encouraged to collect rain water in a butt and use grey water from washing machine waste, baths and showers to use to water the plants using a watering can. This is obviously time consuming, but there is another solution for garden watering. Using an irrigation system means that only the necessary amount of water is used, and only when it is needed; and even more importantly for the busy horticulturist, it can be delivered through an automated system.

One of the reasons domestic irrigation systems have become so popular with gardeners is through the success witnessed with such systems in agriculture. Without direct, economical and easy watering, there are many countries that would have found themselves in the throes of famine. Using irrigation for garden watering ensures that self sufficiency is possible, and at the same time, negative environmental impact is avoided through the simple conservation of water supplies. Water is our greatest resource, we must endeavour to preserve and respect what we have.

by: Dominic Donaldson

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