Water Ideas, Tips & Guides

The weather is warm and sunny again, and I’m wilting (slightly) faster than the plants. It’s at times like this that I’m grateful for designing the garden with raised beds – they’re nice and deep and hold plenty of moisture, and the plants in them can last days between watering, even in the hottest weather.

It’s horrible this morning – windy and very wet. But there is a silver lining to these clouds; the rain is filling my water butts, courtesy of the new guttering Ryan and his dad fitted onto the two sheds yesterday morning. Ryan chose white guttering and fittings, which fit in nicely with the colour scheme for the sheds, although the paintwork is looking a little grubby now and could do with touching up!

Apparently a No Deal Brexit could threaten our water supplies, as the chemicals used for water treatment are imported from the EU and can’t be stockpiled in any quantity. Even if we dodge that bullet, climate change and population increases mean England could run out of water in the next 25 years. The chief executive of the Environment Agency wants wasting water to become socially unacceptable, and it’s a good bet that garden sprinklers – which in one hour use as much water as the average person does in a week – will become as frowned upon as smoking indoors.

Join Emma the Space Gardener as she explores gardening on Earth… and beyond! Emma’s guest on this week’s show is Christine Escobar, VP of Space Lab Technologies. Christine talks about the wonderful microgravity lilypond, and the company’s plans to put a greenhouse on Mars.

Over the past few years, experiments in the Veggie growing system have proved that astronauts can grow edible plants on the International Space Station. 

Plant lovers work hard to make sure that their precious plants don’t die on them. But when going on a vacation or business trip, it becomes a dilemma–how will the plants survive? Especially without watering!

Here are some of the best Plants You Can Grow in Your Indoor Water Garden. They are easy to maintain, demand less attention, and are the best options for small spaces.

Annual zinnias are a timeless favorite in the home garden. In addition to their beauty, these vibrant plants have long been celebrated for their ability to attract a wide array of pollinators and beneficial insects. Gardeners praise zinnias for their ease of growth and adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions.

A quick way to clean the algae out of a garden water feature after a long, dark, and wet winter is to use a power washer. It only takes a few minutes to dislodge the long mats of algae, and the low volume of water that blows out of the nozzle doesn’t disturb even the smallest of rocks. Start at the top of where the water flows and work your way down to the bottom of the feature. This is a lot easier and more effective than grabbing the strands by hand and then using a brush to clean the rest away. You can see the difference in these “before” and “after” photos. I enjoy this a lot more than power washing the patio.

BHG / Sarah Crowley

Growing Indoor Plants in Water might seem like an easy task, but there are inevitable blunders you can make while doing so. In this article, you will learn how to avoid making such mistakes!

After 20 years of having a lawn that took, I wanted a yard that contributed: to the planet, to local animals, to biodiversity, to my neighbors, to my mental health. With the sage (native plant pun intended) design work, counsel, and collaboration of David Godshall of Terremoto and David Newsom of Wild Yards Project—and a plant-friendly paint palette from color consultant Teresa Grow—another little garden that gives was born.

While flowering trees are what you want, drought tolerant trees are what you need. Fortunately, there are a number of drought resistant flowering trees that will adorn your garden while requiring minimal water. These types of plants can form the bones of a water wise landscape.

Propagating wandering jew plants is very easy and makes a cost-effective way to expand your collection.

Lily themed week shows some more waterlilies and tips for a happy pond.

You can’t throw lilies away if Lily is still wearing them (Lonnie Donegan)

In the Georgian period of the 1700’s John Aislabie set about landscaping a water garden at Studley Royal near Ripon. Today it is a verdant green garden with ornamental lakes, cascades and vistas to take the breath away.

Moon pond water feature with pheasant – early spring at Studley Royal Ripon

March is a good time to feed your Pears, Plums, Greengages and Blackcurrants.

If you want a cheap and easy water feature bury half a plastic dustbin in your garden. Fill it with rain water from your butt. If you use tap water it will have to stand for a week or more before introducing wild life and will probably go green with algae.

If Prince Charles talks to his plants then possibly the soil talks back to him. It may not say I am impoverished and lacking in nutrients but the resulting plants will. On the other-hand wet soil can eloquently tell gardeners when there is trouble.

Are you confused about How Often to Water Mint? Well, don’t worry! This guide will help you to keep it thriving!

Welcome, DIY Enthusiasts! If you're passionate about creating unique and sustainable projects for your outdoor space, I have an exciting endeavor for you: building your own DIY solar water fountain.

We’re all used to recycling the cardboard and soda cans that come through our homes, but did you know you can recycle your home’s used water, too? (Don’t worry; we’re not talking about the really dirty stuff!)

Of all the questions I get asked as a gardening expert, “How often should I water my garden?” easily cracks the top 10. It can be difficult to get watering frequency, watering amounts, and even watering methods just right. But doing so is critical to your success, as they influence everything from the flavor and storage capacity of the food you grow to the size and timing of blooms on perennial plants. There are plenty of tools and techniques to help you get a handle on how often you should water and how you can deliver the right amount of water when and where your plants need it. If you’ve ever wondered ‘How often should I water my garden?’ we’ve got the answers! Keep reading to learn when and how long to water.

The best thing about pothos is they are really easy to maintain, and you can even grow them without soil. All you need is a glass of water, and they will be more than happy to grow.

Changing weather patterns due to climate change are resulting in longer and more frequent periods without rain, putting water resources under increasing pressure. Hosepipe bans are therefore becoming more frequent. Hosepipe bans are designed to restrict water consumption by banning the use of a hose for watering plants, as well as activities including cleaning the car, filling pools and hot tubs, and cleaning paths. But don’t despair, there are plenty of ways to keep your plants watered, especially with some prior planning.

Most people can benefit from drinking more water. Here’s how to make it more exciting!

Our South Carolina water resources help producers grow the crops we eat, supply drinking water when we turn on the tap, and support industry and our outdoor lifestyle. It is important to recognize how we use water in our community so that we can each do our part to help conserve this important resource. Do you know who is the biggest user of water in South Carolina? It may not be who you think.

These days, my phone keeps ringing about ponds clogged with aquatic weeds and algae. If your pond’s surface is more than 20% covered with weeds or algae, you should work with a pond management company to tackle the issue. An additional step toward the prevention of this issue is tracking down the cause. Aquatic weed growth and algal blooms are usually caused by excess nutrients in the water. These nutrients come from many different sources, but common sources are sedimentation from shoreline erosion and the transport of excess nutrients from fertilizers through stormwater runoff.

Painting is a lot of work. Once you finish, you must clean up. How do you wash your paintbrushes?

The weather events and weather patterns of recent years, like the “1000 year storm” in 2015 associated with Hurricane Joaquin, have left residents grappling with water management in their yards. On top of hurricanes, we also have dubbed the term “rain bombs,” storms that drop multiple inches of rain per hour, leaving yards and communities flooded and a mess to clean up. With some adjustments, we can help to manage this water better and create a functioning, aesthetically pleasing landscape.

Water is like gasoline: you don’t miss it until it’s gone. Benjamin Franklin succinctly stated it this way: “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.” So, while you may not be contemplating a hot, dry, sun-baked summer now, it’s important that you create and maintain a landscape that can stand up to whatever’s in store for us this summer.

It should go without saying that water is vital for plant survival. Plants use water for photosynthesis, transporting water-soluble nutrients, and maintaining turgidity. Turgidity is the water pressure against the inside of a plant’s cell walls that keep plants upright and supple. When a plant lacks water, decreased turgor pressure causes the plant to wilt. During the spring, summer, and fall, wilted leaves indicate a plant lacks water, and experienced gardeners know supplemental water is necessary to ‘perk it up.’ But during the winter, when many plants lose their leaves or wilting leaves are harder to recognize, how do gardeners know when to water?

For a pond owner, sunny summer days can mean fishing with kids, canoe trips, and picnics under a shady tree by the water. However, those hot summer days also lead to pond owners calling the Extension office asking: “Help! Why is my pond water suddenly green?”

Earlier this summer, the lack of rain, sweltering summer sun, and our thirsty gardens were a reminder to all of us that water is a vital part of our day-to-day life. Hot, dry conditions can stress not only our gardens but also farmland, drinking water supply, recreation opportunities, environment, and community. We can all help reduce our collective water footprint by incorporating a few smart water management practices into our day. Pick a few of the actions below to help save more than just a drop in the bucket: