The need to save water has become one of the major cornerstones of modern environmental policy. We now recognize that the small contribution we make at home can have a major impact. So these 3 ideas to save water will help YOU make an impact too.

Have you thought about how to save water? Everyone is always looking for ways to save money around the home. More people are increasingly concerned with their impact on the environment, which is why saving energy is a priority.

But people tend to focus on cutting down their electricity usage which, while important, isn’t the only thing they need to think about. Water usage is an area that is often neglected but it’s a big problem.

Not to mention you’re probably spending a lot more money than you need to on your water bills. There are all sorts of things that you could do to save water around the home, but have you considered the garden?

We use a lot of water in the garden, especially if you’ve got a big outdoor space with a lot of plants, and that’s costing you a lot of money. However, with a few simple changes, you could successfully save water.

Here’s how to redesign your garden to cut down on your water usage.

Cut The Size Of The Lawn

Watering the lawn is probably the most water intensive garden activity, especially during the summer when there’s less rain. But if you don’t water your lawn, it’s going to die. You’ll end up with a horrible brown mess instead of a nice green lawn.

So, if you really want to save water but still have a nice looking garden, you need to cut the size of the lawn. If you look at getting patios installed on half of the garden instead, you’ll immediately reduce the amount of water you’re using.

The other benefit of installing a patio is that it improves the functionality of the garden as well. You can split it in two and add a nice seating area on the patio where you can entertain guests.

Get Your Soil Right

The type of soil you have in the garden is very important. If you use soil that doesn’t hold that much moisture, you’ll be watering it constantly. Laying mulch over the top of the soil, particularly around the base of shrubs and trees, stops the water from evaporating so quickly so you won’t need to water it as often.

You can also get special granules or gel that help with water retention. Just mix some of this into the compost when you’re planting things and you won’t have to water as often.

That’ll save you money on your water bills and it means you won’t have to spend as much time managing the garden as well.

Stop Over-watering

A lot of people make the mistake of watering too much because they look at the top of the soil to see whether it’s dry. But what you need to look at is the underneath of the soil, where all of the roots are.

Dig underneath a little and look at the soil underneath, if it’s still damp, you don’t need to water it again. You should also check plants for any signs of change like drooping leaves or a change in color. That’s another sign that it’s time to water.

Making these small changes in the garden will make it more environmentally friendly, save you a load of money and make your garden easier to look after so there’s no reason not to do it.