To learn more about water-based gardening, visit Master Gardeners of Nevada County today at 9 a.m. through Zoom for a virtual workshop. “Water Wise Gardening” includes methods for soil improvement; Learn how to determine water needs for specific plants and provide planning information for grouping plants with similar water needs.
Photo courtesy UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County
Despite these beautiful spring days, it is obvious that water, one of our most valuable resources, will be an issue again this year. News reports and water surveys show that more than five relatively dry months have passed. Without the series of strong storms creating more snowpack in the sierra, we are likely to have another critically dry summer season.
In response to our recent drought history in California, we are learning that water must be used more efficiently. In general, studies find that wood and other non-lawn plants do well with much less water than some gardeners. Significant water savings can be made by reducing the amount of irrigation normally applied to new and existing landscapes. Regardless of whether we are gardening in drought conditions or not, in the foothills of the Sierra, with careful planning of water consumption, healthy and attractive landscapes can be created.
Here are some ways to reduce water usage in the garden:
- Learn more about the soil – the type and water holding capacity. Find out if you have sandy, loamy, or loamy soil – or a combination. Irrigation by soil type. For example, plants that grow on sandy soils generally need to be watered more frequently, but for shorter periods of time, than plants that grow on clayey soils. If your irrigation system is applying water faster than it can be absorbed by the soil, adjust the amount of water, when to apply, or both. Knowing how much water your plants need is important for plant health and water conservation. The addition of compost supports soil health, which in turn helps to keep the water in the soil more effectively.
- Smart irrigation – Gradually reduce water consumption by 10% within a few weeks so that shrubs, trees and plants have time to adapt. Before watering, check weather conditions and soil moisture, and plan to water early in the day to reduce water loss through evaporation.
- Plant drought-resistant trees and plants. When mature, these plants may not require as much water as other varieties. However, they will need more water when initially planted, especially for the first year or so, so that they have time to develop adequate root systems. Once established, plants can be weaned to tolerate less frequent watering. This allows deeper roots to develop and helps plants better tolerate drought. Water established trees, shrubs, and ground covers deeply, but rarely. In the absence of rain, most trees and shrubs benefit from thorough monthly watering. When looking for plants with low water consumption, always check the plant identification labels and select plants that are labeled either as “drought tolerant” or as “drought resistant”. There are a number of lists available online to help you choose water-based plants. The UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars offers a list of approximately 100 plants that thrive in a Mediterranean climate such as that found in the Sierra foothills. In addition, the Nevada County Master Gardener website (http://ncmg.ucanr.org/) has a section on water gardening.
- Hydrozoning is the grouping or grouping of plants according to their needs for water, soil and sun exposure in order to separate plants with low water consumption from the flood users. When planning spring gardens and landscapes, establish watering zones by using separate watering valves for each type of planting so that more drought-tolerant plants can be zoned. Plan to plant perennials in the fall just before the typical rainy season.
- Reduce the size of your planted areas by removing the low priority plants that are competing for soil moisture in overcrowded beds. Maximize the amount of garden space available to low water users by planting low water plants. Keep water-loving weeds at bay.
- Mulch! A 2 to 4 inch layer of organic mulch evens out temperatures and can reduce evaporation, saving 20 to 30 gallons per 1,000 square feet with each pour. It also prevents the soil from becoming encrusted and allows water to penetrate better. First of all, mulch reduces water loss through evaporation and keeps the soil temperature even. When it breaks down, it contributes to the nutrients that microorganisms in the soil need – again to support soil health. Mulching also helps with weed control
To learn more, join Nevada County’s Master Gardeners TODAY at 9 a.m. via Zoom for a virtual workshop. “Water Wise Gardening” includes methods for soil improvement; Learn how to determine water needs for specific plants and provide planning information for grouping plants with similar water needs. Further workshops in April will focus on irrigation – “Functional irrigation” will be carried out in two parts via Zoom. The first part will be presented on April 17th and the second part on April 24th at 9:00 a.m. The workshops will be recorded and posted on the public website for later viewing.
Ann Wright is a master gardener from Nevada County.
