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The right amount of water is essential for your garden. Too much, and fungi grows and the bases of your plants begin to rot. Not enough, and they wither and die. During a drought it can be a challenge to keep your garden healthy, but there are some tips and tricks that will help you conserve water while keeping your garden looking lovely.

Managing Water in Your Garden During a Drought

Water Catchment Systems

If you live in an area that experiences a regular wet-dry cycle, and you have a water catchment system, this is the first water source you should use to keep your garden watered during a drought. If you don’t have one, they’re easy to set up. You just need a rain barrel and a good gutter system, ideally with rain gutter protection to keep debris out of your barrel. Even if you’re not in an area with a wet-dry season, rain barrels are a very environmentally friendly way of managing water around your home.

Well-Planned Drainage

You’re probably thinking that it’s not raining, so how can well-planned drainage help? Even in a drought, it does eventually rain. As the water comes down through your gutter system, you can direct it to a drainage pond or throughout your landscaping. When you send water to areas around plants and shrubs that survive or thrive in very wet conditions, they’ll have a bit of extra moisture when the drought starts.

Capture Water Inside

We often run our water for a few minutes before the hot water arrives at the faucet. Use that water to fill a watering can or bucket and take it outside to water your plants. If you do this with your morning shower and when you do the dishes in the evening, you may end up with several gallons of water each day.

Add a Swale to Your Landscaping

A swale is a great way to slow water from running down a hill and into the street. If your home is on a slope and you have landscaping throughout, dig a small trench with a berm on the downhill side. Although you’ll end up with some standing water for a short time, this will reduce soil erosion and allow water to seep into the ground, providing much-needed water for your garden.

Each of these options requires an investment of time, money or both, but the benefits they bring to your garden and the environment are worth it. The average cost of gutter guards can be recouped in the savings of your time or paying someone to clean your gutters, and water savings when you use a rain barrel to water your garden. Gutter Helmet is the leader in rain gutter protection and provides free estimates. Call (800) 824-3772 or fill out our contact form and your local dealer will reach out to schedule a convenient appointment.