More Water Wisdom

Yep, we’re in a drought. Shorter showers, unwashed cars, driveways swept by brooms, lawns spray painted green – here we go again. Want to know something you can do that’ll really make a difference, saving money and saving water simultaneously?

Compost.

Here’s some numbers:  A 3-inch layer of leaf compost, turned in to your soil at a 6-inch depth (about a shovel blade depth) can increase the water holding capacity of that soil to 2.5 times more than it would normally hold. Soils composted in this manner can provide plants with water for up to a week between watering.

The Rodale Institute has a simple equation:  1 pound of carbon (aka compost) equals 40 pounds of water retention.

Common Ground carries organic compost, naturally. We have Gardner’s & Bloome Soil Building Compost and Bu’s Blend Biodynamic Compost. Either of these composts will help your garden weather the drought. Both will make your plants sing happy tunes.

Turn in some compost and turn off the spigot.