Re-use bathwater for gardening needs

One NC couple found a way to recycle bathwater for watering plants and garden areas. It can be done and helps during dry times when water restrictions are in place...

News and Observer
October 22, 2007
Drought - Editorial

Engineering bathwater re-use
Waterwise: how Triangle residents are saving water

Several readers have told us of how they catch water from their showers to use on their plants or in their toilets. Nellie and Jimmy Hocutt, who live just outside Raleigh, have devised a way to make it easy.

Jimmy Hocutt removed the pipe that usually sent bathwater into the couple's septic tank and diverted it into a 50-gallon plastic container that he had bought at Wal-Mart and buried in the ground.

"With the two of us taking daily showers, we are able to catch 30 gallons a day, giving us an ample supply of recycled water to give all our shrubs, azaleas and our outdoor plants water every single day," Nellie Hocutt wrote via e-mail. "Also, I keep a bucket in my kitchen and recycle all the casual water I use daily, washing vegetables and dishes. Some days, I collect as much as 15 gallons a day.

"So, needless to say, we have very happy plants." Original Article...

Gardening tips for drought conditions

Work with your plants and home gardens during dry times to help them survive and adapt. You can help your plants survive drought conditions by taking a few steps to help them along...

• Mulch, mulch, mulch - Adding a layer of mulch around and near plants will help conserve the moisture that plants do get and will also keep the roots cool.
• Water a little, but not too much - Water if needed but don't over water. Many plants will shed leaves and become dormant to protect themselves. Watering excessively can cause plants to rot or drown. Plants over a year old should have a good root structure and will need less water.
  
• Choose plants suited to your area and pick drought tolerant ones for dry conditions. Lantana, Butterfly Plants and other choices are good for areas that get lots of sun and endure drought better.

Don't be surprised when you lose a few plants during dry times. Some plants just don't do well in hot, dry areas and should only be planted if the right conditions and part shade are available.

News & Observer
September 15, 2007
Debra Boyette, Staff Writer

How to care for your drought-stressed plants

Your impatiens looking a little, well, impatient? Your dahlias drooping?

It's no wonder. Until the last week, temperatures have been in the triple digits, and raindrops have been few. Watering restrictions are in place all over the Triangle. Flowers and other plants are showing signs of stress. What can you do?

"Unfortunately, some plants just won't survive," says Peter Zierz, a Wake County master gardener. But you can take some steps to help your garden grow.

The most important thing you can do is mulch them well, Zierz says. Mulching helps keep the roots cool. It also helps keep what little moisture the plants get from evaporating.

Second, don't add more stress. When times get tough, a lot of plants go dormant in an attempt to conserve energy. Their leaves may even drop off. The tendency is to do something to help them. But leave them alone, Zierz says. Don't fertilize. Don't prune. Don't water. That will just wake them up, cause new growth and add more stress.

If you're watering (on your assigned day and time, of course), don't go overboard. Lawns and shrubs that are less than a year old need an inch of water per week, Zierz says. But don't drench them. You want the water to be absorbed into the soil. Shrubs that are older than a year old probably don't need to be watered now.

If you're thinking about planting shrubs or flowers this autumn, late fall is the best time to do so -- that means November to January in this zone. But keep in mind that new plantings need lots of water to get established. You'll need to keep that under consideration if restrictions continue or get tighter.

Not all plants are having a tough time. "My lantana is thriving," Zierz says.

Lantana loves the sun, and some varieties are perennial. When you're planning your flower beds for next year, think about lantana and other plants that do well under drought conditions. These include salvia, angelonia, geraniums and native wildflowers. Original article...

Nurseries offering more drought resistant plants

Worried about your prized plants drying up during the traditional NC summer dry spells? Try planting more drought resistant plants. This also helps cut down on water usage as dictated by new rules on watering.

Many local nurseries have begun offering more plants that require less water and do well in dry areas. This helps the nurseries gain back sagging sales and also helps consumers have gardens that do better in the intense summer heat with less demands for water.

News and Observer
July 19, 2007
Vicki Lee Parker, Staff Writer

Nurseries adapting to drought
Plants that sip water get more shelf space

When the Triangle suffered a drought in the early part of the decade, Fairview Nursery's sales withered, along with many lawns.

Now as the region teeters on the verge of the third drought in five years, the Raleigh nursery's sales are up 8 percent.

No, it's not Miracle-Gro.

The lack of rain and the area's new watering restrictions are leading gardeners to seek plants that require less water. Local nurseries are stocking more drought-tolerant plants to meet demand. They are also selling more rain barrels, special hoses and other products aimed at consumers who are conserving water.

The trend, coupled with the region's surging population of homeowners, is creating lush times for local nurseries and garden centers -- a welcome change after several tough years. Read more...

Beat the heat when home gardening

You can beat the heat while gardening in the hot NC summertime!

The following column from L.A. Jackson lists a number of steps you can take to keep gardening during the sweltering summer heat and help your plants survive.

News and Observer
June 30, 2007
L. A. Jackson, Correspondent

Early gardener can beat the heat

Is it hot enough for you yet? Well, if you're a heat lover, summertime in the simmering Southeast usually doesn't disappoint. Of course, such scorching conditions can take the fun out of gardening, but that is why it's better to do the hardest garden chores early in the morning or late in the day. If you prefer to work with your plants during the heat of the day, be sure to drink plenty of fluids, use sunscreen and don't forget that big, floppy hat!

* If you have recently placed a prized plant just beyond the hose, to get it through the dry times, poke a small hole in the bottom of a plastic one-gallon milk jug, fill it with water, replace the cap and set it next to the plant. The small hole and slight vacuum will let the jug slowly, thoroughly water the plant.

* For a good show of chrysanthemums this fall, fertilize the plants lightly with a water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks and pinch out new tip growth early in the month to keep the plants bushy.

* For chrysanthemums that are good enough to show in competition this fall, let only one or two shoots develop on each plant and continue to remove any side buds that try to develop for the rest of the growing season.

* Strawflowers that are going to be used in dried arrangements preserve best if they are harvested when their flowers are only half open.

* Most herbs do best with minimal maintenance, but many benefit from a 2- to 3-inch mulch, which will help keep the moisture supply at a constant level.

* If you're considering potted plants or hanging baskets, keep three points in mind: (1) Clay pots allow additional evaporation, so plants in these containers must be watered more often than plants in plastic containers; (2) the smaller the pot, the quicker the soil inside it dries out; and (3) the more you water, the more nutrients leach out of the soil, so water with a liquid fertilizer every two to three weeks.

* Production from the vegetable garden should be in high gear now, but to keep even more crops coming, harvest such veggies as okra, cucumbers, squash, beans and indeterminate tomatoes every two to three days.

* Prune tomato plants to improve production. Prune lower leaves to divert more energy into fruit production. However, resist cutting off any upper foliage that shields tomatoes from the sun because this natural covering helps prevent sunscald.

* Patrol the potato patch for exposed spuds. If you aren't going to harvest them immediately, cover with mulch to prevent the sun from turning them green and making them taste bad.

* Hate how slimy boiled okra gets? Leave the edible stems on the pods and cook them whole.

* Japanese beetles are at their worst this month. If you opt to end their reign of terror in your garden with Japanese beetle traps, remember that they attract before they kill, so place them far, far away from any susceptible plants. The bait in these traps is usually a sex pheromone, so even in an out of the way location, Japanese beetles will find them.

* Don't forget your bird friends. At least once a week, clean the bird bath, and keep the feeder clear of old seed and refilled with fresh feed.

* If you still have bare spots in the garden, midsummer sales are in full force and are sure bets for finding great plant bargains.

* Think the summer garden is nothing but a sea of green? Visit your local arboretum or botanical garden to see how these professional public gardens add color to their summer beds.

Original article...