So, last week, we spoke about the keeping hydrated in a heat wave. This week, before everyone goes doo-lally with water usage, the Sergeant Major in me (he’s as stocky as Stockton and he’s moustache is more bristly than Bristol) harrumphed up and hissed ‘Water conservation at all costs Shaw, regardless!’ to me.
So, this blog, I’m moving away from the how to look after ourselves aspect and looking at how to look after our gardens, lawns and plants in this heat:
- Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped.
- Use sprinklers for large areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
- Do not water your lawns and or plants during the hottest hours of the day – more than likely it will just burn the lawn and or plants and not feed either.
- Remember to check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the sprinkler heads in good shape.
- Don’t water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.
- Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those spraying water into the air. In fact, during a heat wave, it’s advisable to turn the fountain off (unless it’s a drinking fountain or is a source of water for animals and pets).
And remember, preferable not to use the water from your office water cooler to water your garden, lawn or plants – unless of course it’s your carefully cultivated, ten year old bonsai that you keep on the conference table (a. because it’s inside and b. because it’s in the shade, so you’re allowed).
