Tell me Tuesday: How does your (green) garden grow?

I love my garden.  So it hurts me to see it withered from the recent heatwave in Toronto.  But after reading about the drought wreaking havoc in much of North America, it seems hard to justify watering a few waters and herbs, let alone the grass (just a small patch, for the dogs of course).

(C) Riannon John/ WWF-Canada

Not wanting to be wasteful of finite resources, I turned to WWF’s wonderful Facebook audience for some tips on how to keep my garden green while staying, well, green.
Some of the great suggestions included:

• –Composting to create natural, nutrient-rich soil (while cutting back on waste, no less)
• –Using rinse water from the wash to water, which will apparently not only keep your grass green but also kill any weeds
• –Planting clover instead of grass, as its more drought-tolerant
• –Mulching flower and veggie beds to keep them cool and reduce evaporation
• –Planting native wildflowers that can attract pollinators and help everything flourish
• –Using rain barrels to collect water for the garden

 
All great suggestions that I’m keen to try – thanks France, Jane, Andrew and Danielle for the tips!  I actually use a rain barrel already, and am trying to plant more native species.  I also try to water first thing in the morning, before the sun is strong, which gives the soil a chance to absorb the moisture.
Hopefully, we can all keep your gardens, and ourselves, nice and green this summer.  If you have any more tips to share, please let us know!