Last week, I talked about ways to save money and energy during the summer months by making your air conditioning use more efficient.
This week, I'm going to share ways to conserve water use during the hot summer months.
There are a few simple things you can do that will help the environment and make a big impact on your water bill.
Let the ride go a bit
Not washing your car is one way to cut back on your water use. Obviously, if your car is extremely muddy or dirty in any way that's dangerous, you need to get it clean. But most cars just get dusty and buggy from driving and don't really need a wash.
If you water your lawn, stopping or at least cutting back is another way to conserve water use.
Rain barrels to the reserve
Installing a rain barrel at the end of your downspout can provide free water to water your plants with. Rain barrels can also provide a reserve for use during droughts when you might be asked not to water your plants. And they don't have to big or ugly — there are many ways to make them look colorful and attractive.
I plan to make my own rain barrel soon, and I will let everyone know how that goes.
Mulch against evaporation
Watering your plants when it’s cooler outside lets them absorb more of the water you’re giving them without the sun and heat causing it to evaporate. That means it’s best to water your plants at night or early in the morning before it gets too hot.
Another way to make sure your plants use as much of the water you give as possible is to mulch around them. Mulch still allows water to pass into the soil, but then acts as a protective barrier against evaporation.
Watering your plants early in the morning or at night and mulching your plants will allow you to water them less because the water you give them will go farther.
Amanda’s Animal Fact of the Week
Sloths spend all their lives in trees, only coming down to the ground about once a week to defecate and urinate.
