Water conservation is just one of the ways that you can help the environment. Composting is another. Design your Backyard Wildlife Habitat with the planet in mind.
Water Conservation
Save Water -- Drip, Soak, and Mulch.
Water is a precious commodity. Humans extract it from the ground and as a result, the water table may drop, damaging habitats miles away. We divert water from rivers and lakes which reduces flow rate, possibly impacting fish, herons, otters, mussels, and thousands of other kinds of wildlife.
What you can do:
Mulch planting beds with newspaper, leaves, bark, or wood chips. Mulches retain soil moisture and improve soil quality.
Water your plantings with a soaker hose or a drip irrigation system. Less water evaporates this way than with a sprinkler, and you target your watering.
Use a timing device with any watering system.
Use "wasted" water for your plants. A rain barrel or cistern that captures rainfall from your roof is a great garden reservoir. In some areas, gray water --water from bathing or washing clothes --can legally be diverted to garden use.
