Sustainable Gardening Using Water-Wise Methods

Plant Harmony isn’t just about gardening. It’s about cultivating sustainable gardens that have a positive effect on the ecosystem beyond it, including wildlife and waterways. I’m here to show you that you have a choice when it comes to your home and garden! By working with nature, you can enjoy a healthy home and grow a bountiful garden that makes a positive impact on the world around you. 

Understanding Water-Wise Gardening

Here in California, water-wise gardening is sustainable gardening. When you practice sustainable gardening methods, you inadvertently grow a water-wise garden. 

While water-wise gardening is about water conservation, water pollution prevention is about water preservation. The National Park Service defines it this way: “Conservation is generally associated with the protection of natural resources, while preservation is associated with the protection of buildings, objects, and landscapes. Put simply, conservation seeks the proper use of nature, while preservation seeks protection of nature from use.”

I’ll go more in-depth about the steps for water-wise gardening later in this blog, but want to share the most important one right now. 

I select plants that will thrive in their environment throughout the year and I recommend you do the same! Choose climate-appropriate plants that will flourish with moderate, low, or no water once established. 

But why do we do this? The effect goes beyond your garden boundaries, which is why a holistic approach that includes water-wise gardening is so impactful to ecosystem health.

Impacts of Sustainable Gardening on Ecosystem Health

California is uniquely listed as a Mediterranean climate. We experience dry summer seasons and wet, rainy winter seasons. However, the effects of La Niña and El Niño – the rainy season – cause California to experience longer periods of dry. This leads to sustained years of drought. 

Water-wise gardening is incredibly beneficial for this type of climate especially! This approach focuses on conserving the water you use and getting the most out of the precious resources that are available.

It also encourages you to look deeper as a gardener. It’s not just about using less water and hoping for the best. It’s about knowing how to plan and maintain your garden in a way that allows you to use less water naturally. Because if you know how much and when to water, you can prevent waste.

Prevents water waste

The biggest way I see gardeners unintentionally wasting water is by watering frequently, shallowly, and not getting the water where it needs to go… the root zone.  

Dry soil is hydrophobic. If you add water too fast – from a rain event or a sprinkler – it will run off. It takes some time to break that dry barrier! However, when a nice 2-3 inch layer of mulch is in place, the water infiltrates with ease. 

Why should we care about runaway water? Not only is it wasting a precious resource, but runoff picks up microparticles of fertilizer, pesticides, and other pollutants as it enters our waterways. By learning how to get water where it needs to go, appropriate plant selection, and building soil health, you can protect the ecosystem beyond your garden. 

Creates resilient plants (and gardeners)

You can also create more resilient plants! 

For example, my garden coaching clients live in the greater San Francisco Bay Area of California. I know from experience that once we choose the appropriate plants for their space and employ water-wise techniques, they can handle surprise events – like a heatwave that comes out of nowhere. 

What plants have a harder time with? A lack of resiliency from their gardener. 

Let me illustrate this with a personal story. 

I planted beautiful Shasta daisies along my front fence line 3 years ago. During the heat of the day, I noticed they would wilt if the temperature was above 85º. Because I knew the daisies were getting deep, root zone watering and the soil was hydrated, I didn’t worry or meddle with them. 

You might be wondering, “Did they survive?” 

The answer is no… they thrived! Once the high temperatures dropped, the Shasta daisies went from flat to fluffy, bouncing right back into their vigor! From experience, I know it can take a couple of years for perennials to become established. Now, 3 years later they can take the high heat without showing signs of stress. 

Some plants are prone to wilt during the heat of the day when they are not planted in the best location. This happens with hydrangeas! Simply create temporary shade during those excessive heat events – I use a patio umbrella.

Your first instinct when you see a wilted plant might be to react immediately, grab the nearest hose, and saturate the soil. But with integrated pest management (IPM), we seek to understand before we react. IPM asks us to consider other alternatives – like taking the time to feel the soil to make sure it is dry before we water.

The truth is that some plants just don't like the heat. High temperatures can cause them to close their stomata to prevent water loss. What looks like a dying flower on the surface is actually a plant conserving or locking in its moisture… but only if you take the time to notice it.

If you didn’t know this, that’s okay. There is so much room for growth as a gardener… that’s the fun of it! So if you’re ready to learn more about sustainable, water-wise gardening, let’s dig in.

4 Steps to Build a Sustainable Garden

I’ve been on both ends – brought in to educate garden clubs about water conservation and stormwater pollution prevention agencies about water pollution prevention. Here’s what I tell everyone about water-wise gardening, no matter your skill level.

1. Prioritize plant selection

 It is so important to do your homework when choosing what to add to your space. The concept of “right plant, right place” sets a solid foundation for your garden.

Details that often get overlooked but shouldn’t be are: 

The idea is to group likes with likes. Choosing the right plants and placing them together according to their needs (once established) creates a resilient and sustainable garden.

2. Amend your soil

Another recommendation I like to share for sustainable gardening is to add organic matter to your soil. This can be in the form of compost, biochar, earthworm casting, etc.

Amending your soil with organic matter modifies the structure of the soil as it decomposes, improving water infiltration. This helps the soil become a sponge to hold onto moisture longer. This is key for conserving water and growing happy, healthy plants!

On the other hand, using organic fertilizers improves the supply of nutrients in the soil. It’s a small difference, but an important one to remember if you want to be a water-wise gardener.

3. Make mulch your friend

And if you want to water sustainably then you should be protecting your soil with mulch. Just be sure to keep an area of the garden uncultivated to support native soil-dwelling bees!

Mulch is incredibly beneficial to not only your soil and plants but also the ecosystem beyond your garden. 

Here are just a few advantages of introducing mulch: 

  • Reduces water evaporation

  • Helps manage weeds

  • Feeds the soil organisms as it breaks down

  • Reduces erosion

  • Insulates the soil from temperature extremes

  • Supports beneficial insects with places of harborage

  • Prevents compaction that leads to runoff

  • Increases plant root depth

Speaking of roots, let’s dig into a sustainable approach to watering them.

4. Go deep

My work through Plant Harmony advocates for addressing the root of your problem instead of finding a surface-level solution. The same sentiment goes for your plants.

Roots grow where the water goes. If you water shallowly, you will grow shallow roots. 

Water-wise gardening methods encourage you to water your plants’ root zones deeply and thoroughly. As your flora matures, you can drive the root to grow deeply and broadly by watering farther down and further out from the plant’s crown. 

The steps to build a sustainable garden are simple once you understand how your decisions affect your plants. But if it still feels complicated, I’m here to help!

Ways We Can Grow Together

Growing a sustainable garden by using water-wise methods isn’t just good for your plants, it’s good for the ecosystem. Properly planning, selecting the appropriate flora, nourishing and protecting the soil, and watering deeply prevents unwanted pests naturally… without the need for harmful pesticides.

Have questions or insights about gardening the water-wise way? Share your thoughts with me.

Water-wise gardening is a topic in many of the educational presentations I give to garden clubs, business groups, organizations, and agencies. Book me for your next in-person or virtual event!

If you’re in the North Bay area and want to give sustainable, water-wise gardening a go, connect with me about garden coaching.

Suzanne Bontempo