Jacksonville, Ore. –
As Southern Oregon and Northern California prepare for one of the driest years on record, planting a garden and keeping it green, may seem impossible. However, local farmers say you can grow those vegetables and flower gardens all summer long. It’s about making each drop of water count.
Master Gardener Laurin Parker lives on a hill outside Jacksonville. She’s on well water, meaning she’s at the mercy of mother nature when it comes to keeping a garden.
“We don’t know how much water we’ll have to use, so we have to be pretty practical,” comments Parker. This year, she’s taking steps to ration her water as she prepares for the drought. Parker says the first thing to do starts before you even plant, with the ground you plant in.
“The quality of the soil is such that I can get really deep root systems,” says Paker, examining the earth. She uses rich mulch made by Gold Hill resident Denny Morelli. We decided to visit Morelli and find out why your choice of dirt is so important to water conservation.
“The most important thing is to set up a soil that will hold moisture,” he tells us.
Morelli shows us the most drought efficient way to set up a grow box, “We have our hard cloth to keep pests from coming in underneath.”
Next is a base layer of loamy forest like soil. Finally compost. Then mulch over top with alfalfa, grass, straw. Morelli says by putting those components together the soil will retain more water, evaporate less, and with an impending drought that can be a lifesaver for your garden.
“One of the most overlooked aspects is the balance of fertility. If you have the balance right it will hold the moisture better, it’s all inter-related,” says Morelli.
Back in Jacksonville, armed with Morelli’s mulch, Parker says you can save even more water by growing drought resistant plants, “Certain plants don’t need as much water like asparagus and swiss chard.”
Other plant possibilities include succulents, Japanese Maples, and the Bearded Iris. “Just because you are going drought tolerant you don’t have to have little tiny ugly things,” states Parker.
You can optimize water usage by also planting vegetables with similar water needs together. Another tip is growing high yield crops in bunches rather than rows, or what’s known as square foot gardening.
“In a one foot area you can actually put 4 lettuces, because they’re all clumped like this it’s going to keep the water in,” says Parker.
In fact, in Ashland, Public Works will come to your yard for free to help you develop your own watering schedule. “The most important thing to remember is not to over water in the Springtime. If you test your soil with a water meter, you can determine whether you need to water at all,” says Water Conservation Specialist Julie Smitherman.
One of the biggest water saving suggestions has to do with the way you water. “Drip lines are real easy it’s like working with legos,” says Grange Co-op employee Don Steyskal.
According to organicgardening.com drip lines and soaker hoses can save a grower roughly 30 to 50% percent, because their coverage is more direct.
“Not only is it good for conserving water, but it’s also good in weed control because you are not watering empty spaces between the plants,” continues Steyskal.
He also says you’ll need the right tools, like a pressure reducer. Another thing you’ll want to have, if you are doing a plastic drip line and not a soaker hose, is a hole punch for your drip line.
By putting all these elements together, Parker is making each drop count. “We are probably using at most 50-60% less than before. I turn on the water every three days at most,” Parker reveals to us.
A savings that will go a long way when the hot weather hits.
Other suggestions include watering when the sun is down and covering plants with a thin scrim to prevent evaporation and scorching. You can even buy a rain sensor, which will turn off automatic sprinklers depending on the weather.
There are also several resources available online and locally for gardeners at any experience level:
http://www.medfordwater.org/SectionIndex.aspSectionID=9
http://www.ashland.or.us/Page.aspNavID=14051
http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/sorec/gardening/mga
http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/top-10-ways-to-conserve-water
http://themicrogardener.com/ten-water-saving-tips-for-your-garden
http://www.watersavingideas.com/save-water-garden.shtml
http://www.savewater.com.au/how-to-save-water/in-the-garden
How does your garden grow Post your tips to share with others in the comments section below.
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