Watering Guide For Gardeners

From a pamphlet issued by Toronto Water, city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on water usage and conservation in gardening:

WATERING GUIDE FOR GARDENERS

5 Ways to A Waterwise Garden

Learn to conserve water while helping your garden grow beautifully!

1. Reduce lawn watering

Water early in the morning -- only when needed -- to avoid water evaporation. Healthy lawns only need 2.5 cm of water a week including rainfall, so use a rain gauge to keep track of your lawn's total weekly water supply. Grass clippings, which provide nutrients and moisture, can be left on your lawn. 

2.  Go natural

A great natural garden requires smart watering choices. Group plants with similar watering needs, use mulch, or plant according to your soil type. Make waterwise decisions as part of your natural garden plan with these helpful tips:

• Assess drainage patterns, sun and wind exposure and soil type in your garden before selecting the plants that will work best for you.
• Select native or waterwise plants. Watering plants liberally after planting helps them to grow healthy, requiring less maintenance after taking root. Avoid shallow, frequent watering, which leads to disease.
• Use mulch around flowers and shrubs to retain moisture and control weeds.

A selection of drought-resistant annuals and perennials: Bergenia "baby doll", Gazania, hens and checkens, blue fescue grass. Courtesy of Sheridan Nurseries.

3.  Be a part of the water pollution solution

Start by limiting use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on your property. And try these smart ways of recycling rain water:

• Ponds are beautiful water features that can also help to manage stormwater. Be sure to visit www.pmra-arla.gc.ca for information on how to care for your pond safety.
• Create a rain garden: planted on gently sloped land, rain gardens collect rain or stormwater.
• Pave the way: Installing porous pavement -- on your driveway or patio is a beautiful way to allow the absorption of rain water into the ground.

4.  Plant a tree

The more the merrier! Trees clean our air and water and add beauty to your property. If you have high hopes for your tree -- and it's less than three years old -- be sure to water generously. New trees require twenty litres of water a day -- that's about two minutes with a garden hose.

5.  Green Alert!

During extremely hot weather, help reduce water use:

• Use a hand-held container or a soaker hose and set sprinkler systems to water early in the morning, when needed.
• Water your garden or lawn less frequently. They will bounce back when the weather is cooler!
• Top up your swimming pool less often.
• Use a brown instead of a water hose to sweep up debris or clean your driveway and walkway.

AT YOUR SERVICE

For tips on water efficiency and water pollution solutions,

call (416) 397-LAWN or visit www.toronto.ca/water

For tips on pesticide-free lawn and garden care,

call (416) 338-7600 or visit www.toronto.ca/pesticides

For more information on City of Toronto tree programs,

call (416) 338-TREE

TORONTO WATER

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