What are the smartest ways to water your garden during a heat wave?

Is it so hot outside, your garden is wilting even before the sun rises or after it sets? Mine sure is!!  The only hope is to keep your vegetables and bushes watered. But how can you do that without spending all your time holding a hose? And all your dollars on a high water bill? Big Green Purse collaborated with Gilmour, which makes a very reliable garden hose, to offer you this list of smart ways to water your garden during a heatwave to help you out.

There are two secrets to water your garden during a heat wave:

1. The equipment you use
2. When and how you water

Here are 14 of the best, smartest ways to water your garden without wasting a lot of H2O or time.

1. Check your sprinkler and hoses for leaks.

“A leak as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen can waste 6,300 gallons of water,” says the U.S. EPA’s Watersense program.

It’s easy to spot a leaky hose because water shoots out of the hole. Sprinklers will spray around the place where they attach to the hose rather than send all the water through the sprinkling mechanism.

Next time you turn on the water, take a quick look. If you see a hose spurting, patch it up with duct tape. If your sprinkler is squirting, tighten the nozzle where the hose attaches to the sprinkler.

2. Let it drip.

Not your faucet. A drip irrigation system, which delivers water directly to the bottom of the plant so it can easily seep into the ground and moisten the roots. Though landscaping companies can install snazzy systems, you can also set one up yourself less inexpensively. Take a look at what Dripworks has to offer, for starters.

3. Use a timer.

If you want to set up your sprinkler and then go about your daily routine, use a timer to automatically turn the water off after a certain amount of time.

4. Can it.

A watering can or pitcher can be the perfect way to water newly planted seeds and seedlings. Using a pitcher, you can deliver the right amount of water to each seedling. Gently sprinkle water overhead to moisten the soil.

5. Try a rain barrel.

Set up a rain barrel next to a shed, garage, or your home, and capture rain water coming off the roof. You can put a rain barrel on each corner of the building if you want. Use the spigot on the bottom of the barrel to drain water into a watering can, or attach a hose. Rain barrels come in handy when rainfall is scarce and you don’t want to use your home water source to keep your garden alive.

This is Helpful! If You Don’t Have a Rain Barrel, You’re Losing Water and Money

6. Use your cooking water.

If you steam or boil vegetables, use the nutrient-rich water after it’s cooled to nourish your plants. This works easily for plants you have on your patio or porch.

7. Reuse fish tank water.

Do you have a pet fish whose tank you empty? That water will be full of nitrogen and phosphorous, great for some plants.

8. Water early in the morning and when it’s not windy.

Water early in the morning and when it’s not windy. The morning is the best time to water grass as it gives the water a chance to seep into the ground rather than evaporate in the hot sun or blow away from the plants that need it. If you have to water during the day, water plants that are in the shade as opposed to those in full sun.

9. Mulch.

A two-inch thick covering of shredded pine bark, composted leaves, or other organic materials will help the ground retain water and reduce evaporation.

10. Try worm poop.

“Vermicomposting” is the process of using worm castings (poop) to increase the organic content of the soil, which will help it retain moisture. You can add the castings themselves. Or you can let worms do the job in place.

You probably don’t want to introduce worms to your garden when it’s miserably hot and dry outside, but you can plan on adding them next spring. The more compost and organic matter you add to your soil, the more likely it will be attract worms and keep them alive.

You Want Me to Try Worm Poop? Yeah, Really…

11. Dig in some compost.

Like worm poop, well-decomposed organic compost helps the soil stay loose and retain moisture, which is great for plant roots. If your soil is primarily clay, it won’t hold water at all. If it’s too sandy, the water will drain away. Compost builds great soil that retains moisture and adds other nutrients that plants need.

Don’t Miss: Compost: Crack for the Garden!

12. Xeriscape.

Plant flowers, vegetables, and bushes that do well in the amount of rainfall that falls in your region in an average year. Once established, these plants should require little additional water. Here are some sources for regionally-appropriate plants to choose from.

13. Group plants according to their water needs.

For example, impatience need a lot of water; hostas, not so much. Make a beautiful color statement by grouping all of your impatience together, which will make them easier to water with one fell swoop.

14. Reduce slope erosion.

If you have hills or steep banks, strategically place boulders or ties to help reduce runoff, or landscape into terraces to stop water from slurrying off the hill rather than seeping into the ground.

How else do you water your garden during a heat wave?

NOTE: Collaboration with partners like Gilmour enable us to bring you the expert content you need to live the greener lifestyle you want. All editorial opinions remain our own. 

The post 14 Smart Ways to Water Your Garden During a Heat Wave appeared first on Big Green Purse.

DIANE’S ELECTRICITY USAGE …

December 2015         compared to                 JULY  2015
800 KWH ……………………………………….. 1590 KWH

In other words, when I compare the coldest months of the year to the hottest, it’s actually costing me more to cool my home than to heat it.

Summer Energy Conservation Action Steps

Take a look at your own recent electricity bill, especially compared to the colder winter months. Then consider these recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the amount of energy you’re using summer as well as winter.

#1 – Insulate. Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area. Insulation is measured in R-values—the higher the R-value, the better your walls and roof will resist the transfer of heat. DOE recommends ranges of R-values based on local heating and cooling costs and climate conditions in different areas of the nation. This map and chart show the DOE recommendations for your area. State and local code minimum insulation requirements may be less than the DOE recommendations, which are based on cost effectiveness. For more customized insulation recommendations, check out this Zip Code Insulation Calculator. It provides insulation levels for your new or existing home based on your zip code and other basic information about your home.

While you’re at it, insulate around cooling and heating ducts to prevent additional energy loss. That step alone could improve your HVAC performance 20%. When choosing insulation, check with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the latest research on home insulation. There are many varieties available, with many health and safety pros and cons. The most common is blown-in or batting fiberglass insulation, but the “off gassing” from the fiberglass has been known to make people sick. Insulation made from denim and cellulose is also available, but some builders question how effective it is. Research is changing all the time, so make sure to read product reviews before you choose.

#2 – Weatherize. Add weather stripping to seal leaky frames around doors and windows. You can buy it in long rolls and cut it to fit without much hassle, especially if you buy the self-adhesive kind. Most hardware stores will carry a variety of weatherstripping, or you can purchase it online here.  

#3 – Change your HVAC air filters. EPA’s EnergyStar program recommends changing air filters at least every three months, though monthly is better, especially in summer and winter, when your heating and cooling systems are working their hardest.

#4 – Use blinds, drapes and curtains. Even after you’ve insulated your windows, keep the sun from coming through them by drawing the curtains or closing the blinds.

#5 – Moderate your indoor air temps using a programmable thermostat. There’s no need to keep your house extremely cool when you go to work or otherwise leave for extended periods of time. A programmable thermostat makes it easy to automatically turn your air conditioning up when you leave for work and down a bit before you get home. One of the best on the market is the NEST thermostat, pictured right.  Here are a few other thermostat options to choose from.

NOTE: Both DOE and my local utility recommend keeping the thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home in the summer. If you need additional cooling, try a small table top or window fan.

SHOP OUR STORE for more energy-saving products, including programmable thermostats, weatherstripping, fans, power strips, and timers.

RELATED POSTS

Top 10 Ways to Keep Cool When the Planet Heats Up

Top 10 Ways to Save Energy and Money at Home

The post Does it cost you more to cool your home than to heat it? Why summer energy conservation makes sense. appeared first on Big Green Purse.

I like a lush green landscape as much as the next person. What I don’t like is a big hefty water bill, especially when I know I can save money by being smarter about how I use water. Experts estimate that 50 percent of the water we use outdoors gets wasted due to evaporation, wind, or runoff from overwatering.

No matter how much or how little water you use, it will save you and money and time to use less water. Here are ten tips that have worked for me that I’m happy to share with you.

Top 10 Tips to Save Water Outside

1. Xeriscape: Plant perennials, annuals, bushes and trees that do not need more water than normally falls in your region. If rainfall is scarce, skip hydrangeas, which require frequent watering to thrive and bloom. You can find a good list of plants and the amount of watering they require here.

2. Give Up Grass: Did you ever notice that grassy lawns don’t exist anywhere naturally? That’s because they’re a “monocrop,” and Mother Nature prefers to mix things up (it’s called “biodiversity”) by encouraging a variety of plants to grow together. Even in regions that benefit from a lot of rain, you won’t find a lawn growing all by its lonesome. Follow Mother Nature’s lead. Replace your thirsty lawn with a diverse array of ground covers that are more suited to the actual climate in which you live. Here’s a picture of my former lawn. It is now covered in buttercups, clover, and yes, a little crab grass. I never water it and only mow it maybe once a month.

3.   Plant in “watering zones”: When planting, assign areas of your landscape to different hydrozones depending on sun/shade exposure, soil and plant types, and type of sprinklers you plan to use. Then,  adjust your irrigation system or watering schedule based on those zones’ specific needs. With this simple system in place, you’ll avoid overwatering some areas or underwatering others.

 4.   Tune up your system: Inspect irrigation systems and check for leaks and broken or clogged sprinkler heads. Fix sprinkler heads that are broken or spraying on the sidewalk, street, or driveway. Repair or replace hoses that have holes. I have one spigot I can’t seem to stop from leaking when I water, so I put a big bucket underneath it to catch the drips. When the bucket is around half full, I’ll empty it onto some hydrangeas or azaleas or other plants that need a little extra moisture. Works like a charm!

5. Water when it makes sense. Know how much water your landscape actually needs before you set your sprinkler. Your local utility or garden center can recommend how much water certain plants need in your region and best times to water. It’s best to water lawns and landscapes in the early morning and late evening because large amounts of water can be lost due to evaporation during the heat of the day.

6. Use a WaterSense timer. WaterSense is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program that helps people save water. Products carrying the WaterSense label perform well, help save money, and encourage innovation in manufacturing. Clock timers you attach to your faucet can be set to turn off automatically, saving you water and time. WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers act like a thermostat for your lawn, using local weather data to determine when and how much to water, which reduces waste and improves plant health.

 7.  Get some help: Contractors certified through a WaterSense labeled program can audit, install, or maintain home irrigation systems to ensure water isn’t wasted. Make sure you ask for credentials.

8. Use a soil moisture sensor: Grass doesn’t always need water just because it’s hot out. Step on the lawn, and if the grass springs back, it doesn’t need water. An inexpensive soil moisture sensor can also show the amount of moisture at the plant’s roots and discourage overwatering.

 9. Cut back on mowing.    Longer grass promotes deeper root growth, resulting in a more drought-resistant lawn, reduced evaporation, and fewer weeds. So raise your lawn mower blade to leave the grass longer when you cut it.

 10.   Give your hose a break: Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps rather than hosing them off. And don’t forget to check for leaks at your spigot connection and tighten as necessary.

What Do You Do To Save Water?

We’re always eager to learn from you! If you have some additional ideas to save water outside, please share them below. Thanks!

And here’s another interesting idea for you: some people install water tanks to collect significant amounts of rainfall from their roofs, much more than they’d collect with just a rain barrel. Someone in my neighborhood installed an underground water tank, but there are many other ways to do it. In most parts of Australia, locals make use of rainwater tanks, not only to boost their gardens but for water conservation and sustainability. Water tank suppliers like Rainwater Tanks Direct provide materials as well as help educate citizens about effective rainwater catchment systems.

Related Posts:

Find water-saving timers and devices in our Amazon store here.

The post Ten Ways to Save Water Outside and Cut Your Water Bill by 50% appeared first on Big Green Purse.

1) Cool your home to 78 or 80 degrees, then use fans. The hotter it gets outside, the colder you probably want it inside. Resist the urge to turn your home into an igloo this summer. Set the thermostat to 78 or 80 degrees, which will keep the temperature– and the humidity level — under control (along with your electricity bills). Then use strategically placed fans to cool the rooms you and your family are in at the moment. In our house, we turn off all fans during the day, when everyone is at work, then turn on the fan downstairs in the living room when we get home. We also have a fan in each bedroom.

2) Take off your clothes. Well, not all of them. But you know how in the winter, you add layers to stay warm? In summer, it’s just the opposite. In my house, unless we have company over we’re all running around barefoot, in t-shirts or tank tops and shorts or loose fitting dresses. In winter you put on a hat; in summer, take off your socks.

3) Eat cold food. Cooking over a hot stove or in a broiling oven overheats the kitchen; then you eat hot food, all of which makes you — you guessed it — hot. A summer like the one we’re having calls instead for salads and cold soups for dinner, sandwiches for lunch, fruit and yogurt for breakfast instead of pancakes and eggs, and ice cream or popsicles for dessert rather than home-baked cookies and cakes. If you need to heat something up, use the microwave. Boil hot water for tea in a kettle rather than on the stove. Grill outdoors (following these tips for an eco-friendly barbecue).

4) Make sun tea outside then drink it on ice all day. Get a large clear glass jar, fill it with water, add several tea bags, and let it steep in the heat. It will take a few hours to turn into tea, so plan ahead (I make tea every day for the next day). Of course, any iced drink helps bring down your body temperature; try squeezing fresh lemon or lime into seltzer water you fizz at home for another refreshing tonic.

5) Do your chores at night. Wash full loads to minimize the amount of washing you need to do. Let dishes air dry. Use an outdoor clothes line or drying rack instead of the clothes dryer. Summer is not the time to  sweat through labor-intensive chores like washing walls and baseboards or cleaning out closets. Save those for cooler days in fall or winter.

6) Draw your curtains. Keep the sun out and the cool air in. While you’re at it, close the fireplace damper to prevent cooled air from sneaking out the chimney.

7) Insulate. We have a tendency to seal up cracks around leaky doors and windows to keep our houses warmer in winter. But the principle works just as well in summer. Once you cool the air in your house, keep it inside! Here are more ways to save energy at home, summer or winter.

8) Upgrade your air conditioner. If you’ve been using the same window unit for a while, consider replacing it with a more energy-efficient model. It will do a better job cooling and save you money on electricity bills. In the meantime, shade your air conditioning unit from the sun if possible; just don’t obstruct the air flow.

9) Take a nap. There’s a reason why people who live in the tropics take a siesta in the middle of the day: It’s the easiest way to avoid burning calories and working up a sweat. You’ll probably only be able to do this on the weekends or your day off, but even so, give it a try.

Now is not the time to plant shade trees, but keep that in mind for the fall. My house is surrounded by maple, cherry, oak, mulberry and dogwood trees, easily keeping it ten degrees cooler in the summer than it would be otherwise.

The post 9 Smart Ways to Keep Cool; #2 – Take off your clothes. appeared first on Big Green Purse.