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Water-smart Gardening Tips: Free Event Saturday –

Posted by erika.d.johnson | May 17, 2016

MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM — MGs in the News

Published in The Oregonian Homes & Gardens of the Northwest staff • May 16, 2016 at 2:30 PM

PP - Raingarden 4Judi Seifert is a Master Gardener in Clark County, a program run by Washington State University Extension. Here are her tips for watering smart, just in time for hot weather.

If you’re like most people, about half of your household water is used on lawns and gardens during the dry summer months. It is possible to dramatically reduce your water consumption and still have a beautiful, productive garden by following a few simple guidelines.

Plan ahead: By planning your garden, you can take advantage of the characteristics of your site such as sun, shade, wind and soil. Group plants with similar water needs. Also consider how your plants will get the water they need. Planning will save you time and water down the road.

Do those chores: Healthy plants need less water, fertilizer and pest controls than stressed plants. By staying on top of weeding, thinning and pruning, you’ll water less frequently.

Amend your soil: Add organic matter to your soil in the form of compost. Chopped up leaves or composted manure will improve the texture and water-holding capacity of your soil.

Mulch, mulch, mulch: A layer of organic mulch can cut water needs in half by blocking thirsty weeds and reducing evaporation. Organic mulches retain some water themselves and increase the humidity level around plants. Organic mulches include chopped or shredded leaves, straw, compost, shredded newspaper and grass clippings.

Efficient irrigation: Deliver water to the root-zone by using soaker hoses or drip irrigation that ensure that up to 90 percent of the water you apply to your garden is actually available to your plants.

Check the moisture in your soil before you water – use a moisture meter available at garden centers or just poke your finger into the soil at the base of your plants. Deeper, less frequent irrigation will promote deeper root growth and healthier plants.

Reduce your lawn: A turf lawn is one of the thirstiest and labor-intensive types of “gardens” you can have. Consider reducing the size of your lawn or replacing with native groundcover.

Use free water: Clear, unchlorinated rainwater is the best choice for your plants. Use rain barrels or a cistern to collect water from downspouts. A 1,000-square-foot roof will yield more than 500 gallons of water from one inch of rain.

If you’d like more information, join WSU master gardener Cindy Withrow as she discusses Water Smart Tips for the home garden starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday May 21, at the Vancouver Community Library, 901 C Street, Vancouver, Washington. The event is free and there is no registration needed.

— Judi Seifert

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