By Ashley Bouman

Gardens are a lovely way to green-up your property. They give a natural appearance in what can be an unnatural urban area. Take a walk around any neighbourhood and you will see many beautiful gardens. You might even spot someone watering their lawn or garden, or washing their driveway or sidewalk. Just watching the hose spurt litres of water that is being wasted by running down the yard and into the sewer drain is enough to make some of us cringe. However, it doesn't have to be that way. There are numerous ways in which people can use less water in their gardens.

The first thing you can do is invest in a rain gauge. Gardens and lawns need about an inch of water per week. A rain gauge will keep track of the rainfall and show how much water the lawn and garden is getting. Make your own environmentally-friendly gauge by using a straight-sided recycled container or can (tuna cans work well). Place several around the yard to get a good indication of water absorption.

Harvesting rainwater is the best way to reuse what nature is giving for free. The easiest way to do this is to place a rain barrel underneath the eaves trough downspout. A roof that is 10-by-10 feet will cast off about 2,300 litres of water per inch of rainfall. A rain barrel can store hundreds of litres of water. Rainwater is also healthier for your garden as it has less chlorine and salt content than regular treated tap water.

While not as much fun as sprinklers, drip irrigation is a better tool in conserving water. The water is slow-dripped right onto the plants' roots and is easily absorbed. It maintains moisture in the soil and there is no run-off or wasted water. This method of irrigation is more resourceful than a sprinkler system with 90% efficiency compared to 65%. The emitters (nozzles that drip the water) can be installed as needed so the system can be designed to fit any garden, commercial or home.

Recycled water is not fit to drink but it can be used in outdoor lawns and gardens. Saving leftover water from inside the household is a good idea. Instead of dumping the water from the dehumidifier down the drain, use it in your garden. Also, save the water that is wasted while waiting for the shower to get hot, as well as the water that is left over from boiling eggs, steaming vegetables or even the tea kettle. Make sure, however, that there are no contaminants that will harm the garden or the earth below.

Greywater (also know as graywater) is the waste water generated in homes by dish washing, laundry and bathing. It makes up 50%-80% of all residential water waste. The name comes from the colour of the water, as it is not fresh, clear water nor is it heavily polluted (such as the water from toilets, also known as blackwater). Greywater contains no sewage or fecal matter and can be reused with proper filtration devices. Some people, in fact, reuse this water without filtration, although doing so can have adverse effects on the environment.

Xeriscaping is a natural way of landscaping your garden in an attempt to reduce the amount of maintence needed to maintain it. In other words, xeriscaping helps reduce and/or eliminate the need for extra water. The idea is to plant slow-growing, drought-tolerant plants. The type of plants used depends on the climate of the area. Doing research of native plants in your area will help organise a xeriscaped garden.

Following the idea of xeriscaping, natural or native gardening and landscaping is another way to conserve water. Plants and other vegetation that are indigenous to your area are already accustomed to the climate and weather patterns. It is also a good idea to group plants with similar watering needs together. A high quality compost or mulch is key for a water-wise garden. A good layer of organic matter will keep the soil moist and in need of less water.

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