Brian Minter's tips to keep your garden alive in drought conditions
"You can go dye your lawns green right now. Get over it," Minter says
It's been said that gardening requires a lot of water — most of it in the form of perspiration.
But for the past several weeks it's precipitation that's been lacking around British Columbia, and trees and gardens are paying the price.
- Water restrictions in effect for Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley
- Vancouver's record dry conditions lead to tough new watering restrictions
"It's taking its toll on so many plants," master gardener Brian Minter told B.C. Almanac host Gloria Macarenko.
The exceptionally long period of drought and the intensity of the heat are causing many trees and plants to burn, Minter said.
"We need to look at things entirely differently, because there's going to be losses," especially with the popular pyramidal cedar hedging we see surrounding homes, azaleas and rhododendrons, all of which are particularly shallow-rooted, Minter said.
With watering restrictions in place in many areas, here are Brian Minter's recommendations for maximizing each drop.
1. Water in the morning
Minter says your watering efforts will go the furthest if you water early in the morning, when the plants will actually absorb and use that moisture.
By contrast, a large tree can transpire away as much as 375 to 570 litres of water into the atmosphere in the evening.
2. Water slowly
"A hose running does nothing," Minter said.
"You want to have that soaker hose, a slow drip that goes down for a long period of time to get down to where it's needed, down deep."
Besides conserving moisture, slow-watering can encourage plants to grow deeper root systems for the future.
3. Forget the lawn
"Lawns are not a priority. They will come back, it is inevitable.
"You can go dye your lawns green right now. Get over it," Minter said.
The key is to prioritise which plants need the water most, and what those plants can do with that water. Minter said to focus on watering plants that are food-bearing and those that provide shade.
"A shade tree in the right location is the equivalent of four air conditioners working eight hours a day," Minter said.
Gardeners should also focus on watering plants with shallow root systems, as they are more susceptible to burn because of surface evaporation.
4. Plan for the future
Minter emphasized the importance of planting drought-tolerant species, as scientists predict these longer, hotter summers could become the new normal for the region.
An autumn blaze tree, for example, requires very little water, and a small-leaf rhododendron is more heat-resistant than a big-leaf rhododendron.
Ideally, gardeners should look for food-bearing plants that will produce more, and with less moisture.
To hear the full interview with Brian Minter, listen to the audio labelled: Brian Minter's hot-weather watering tips.