Ottawa is in a drought. It has been weeks since there has been any substantial rainfall. So little rain has fallen this year that the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority has asked people and businesses to reduce their ground water usage. This doesn’t impact people and businesses on the municipal water supply, but given the lack of rain, we should all look at our water usage practices and conserve where we can.
Unfortunately, for gardeners, you may be noticing some plants have slowed down production or gone dormant during the heat. There are many easy ways we can keep our gardens and lawns healthy, green and growing without using too much water.
- Water where it matters. All plants from grass to large trees take water up from the roots. Watering the foliage, fruit or flowers doesn’t benefit the plant at all as the water evaporates instead of getting into the plants’ cells. Water the ground around the plant instead for the most impact.
- Cover the ground. Mulch, leaves, corn husks, even the plants themselves can all act as a protective barrier to keep the soil cool and reduce evaporation leaving the water present available to plants.
- Give your mower a break. In this heat, most grass has significantly slowed down or stopped growing altogether (temporarily of course). Take a break from mowing to reduce damage to the grass and allow the roots a thicker cushion of protection from the heat.
- Use other sources of water. If you’re in preserving mode you may have a large pot of water from your canning process. Don’t put it down the sink drain – drain it into the ground. Your plants will thank you.
- Empty your worm bin. Not the castings, just the tea. When worms eat through produce they produce castings and tea. Drain the tea from the bottom of your worm bin and use that on your plants. Not only will it provide a good drink, it will also provide a bit of food for the microorganisms. If you’re looking for worm tea, we’ve got you covered – Contact us today.
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