Water Thirsty Plants Less
Create a mini-bog for those plants that like lots of water. You'll save
water, time, and your plants will be happier!
B
y Veronica Lorson Fowler
The Iowa Gardener
Here's a simple way to keep water where your moisture-loving plants like it—right at the roots.
When planting, dig out a very large hole that will reach down about as far as you expect the plants' roots to reach. Then lay a big piece of plastic down at the bottom of the hole. You can use leftover plastic liner from a water garden project, a garbage bag, or any other large piece of plastic. It's okay if you have to lay a few pieces of plastic together--even those will slow the flow of water away from the plants.
Cup the plastic so it form a basin and so it almost but not quite will reach the surface of the soil. If it's a single piece of plastic, cut several slashes in it to provide some slow drainage.
Fill with good, rich soil (the kind moisture-loving plants like) and plant!
