In the discussion on summer heat, I mentioned I have to water the plants because of the lack of moisture right now. The outdoor plants took two and half gallons of water this morning. I am working on planting some more summer flowers so this will increase my need for water. My daily estimate for water is seven gallons a day for the outside plants.

How much water are you using just for planters or gardens?

Do you water your lawn? How much does that take?

 

 

I use a sprinkler system with a rain sensor (so it doesn't go off when it's raining or has rained recently) for the lawn, flowers, and garden.  I would have to look at the exact figures, but the increase in my water bill in the summer is more than offset by the drop in my utility bill when I don't need heat (I don't have AC).

I think seven gallons is very conservative! My tomatoes are planted both in a pot and in the ground. I have to water the pot a bit more as it dries out faster. But with the rain we have been having, I think I used about a gallon or so last week and none so far this week.

My planter with my flowers is under an overhang and awning of our house and does not get rainwater! Very frustrating! I use a hose and sprayer and water every other day. DH is going to put mulch down to help keep in the moisture even more. I estimate 3-5 gallons every other day. I have 2 pots of flowers on my front porch. They are brimming with water from our recent rains so I haven't watered them either in a while but I use a gallon jug and give them each 1/2 a gallon every day or so in dry weather.

We have a sprinkler system with a rain sensor. It hasn't been on in over 2 weeks. Even with our 100 degree temps, we have had enough morning or night showers that it does not turn on. This will change I'm sure. The rain can't last forever here!

Some tips: water in the very early morning or after dusk as there is less evaporation from the hot sun and the ground/pots absorb and keep more moisture. When we do have our sprinklers run, it's at 5:30 in the morning. Or DH manually turns them on after 8:30 at night. I tend to water my plants at night, too or at least when the yard is in the shade.

 

mamasjob:

Some tips: water in the very early morning or after dusk as there is less evaporation from the hot sun and the ground/pots absorb and keep more moisture

That's when I water. I currently have  five large containers, one small planter and one very small flower bed to water. The large planters take up most of the water.

 

 We have to water our lawns here if we want them to stay green with more than weeds. I water the gardens by hand in between times when they need it. We've had such a rainy spring here that I've had to water only twice since the growing season started.

If you want to save on that seven gallons, put a container under the kitchen faucet and catch all the little drips and quick rinses and so on. It adds up in a hurry. I do that, as well as catching water in a clean bucket while the shower water is coming up to temperature. Also, you can use leftover tea or coffee to water plants. There are lots of ways to cut having to run clean tap water for a garden. 

 

Pat:

put a container under the kitchen faucet and catch all the little drips and quick rinses and so on

And what am I supposed to wash my laundry in then? Actually, I haven't been catching all the water for laundry so I could very likely pick up some plant water by collecting all the uses I have been missing.

Pat:

as well as catching water in a clean bucket while the shower water is coming up to temperature.

I haven't been doing that either. Good idea!

Pat:

Also, you can use leftover tea or coffee to water plants

I didn't know about this but there has been a little extra coffee left in the pot since I have been trying to cut back. 

 

 

 It all adds up. Even if you save half what you'd otherwise run from the tap, if you multiply that for every day over the watering season, that's a lot of gallons of water! 

Pat:

Also, you can use leftover tea or coffee to water plants. There are lots of ways to cut having to run clean tap water for a garden. 

 

My plants should be so lucky, LOL. Not often there is leftover coffee or tea at our house...

Thanks for the tip about the showers, not one I thought of! We also can divert our de-humidifier to a bucket instead of running it into the floor drain. That water is used for plants, too.

 

Pat:

if you multiply that for every day over the watering season, that's a lot of gallons of water! 

That is exactly what I was thinking as I grumbled over refilling my watering container.

If it would rain, that would help. I don't have proper water collection barrels but I have some buckets and containers I leave upright to catch the water for now. I can hold maybe 40 gallons at a time like this and it's used or moved around by fresh rain or tipping to pour before slime grows or mosquitos collect.

 

mamasjob:

My plants should be so lucky, LOL. Not often there is leftover coffee or tea at our house..

 

I try to remember to dump the remains of iced tea (usually only a few mostly melted ice cubes) in with the rest of the saved water. Every drop means that much less I have to pay for. 

I have heard also about collecting water from air conditioner units... does anyone know how to do that? I have window units, not whole house AC. I've looked and looked and can't figure out where the water goes to or how to get it out.