Are you an avid gardener? Whether you are growing tasty fruits and vegetables, luscious greenery or beautiful, blooming flowers, there are a few ways you can make your garden more energy efficient. Follow these tips:

Make These Simple Switches

Switch to an efficient irrigation system.

What kind of sprinkler irrigation system is currently installed in your lawn? The two most efficient types are drip systems or rotor heads, depending on the type of lawn you have. Drip systems slowly release water, giving the ground time to absorb it and thus wasting less overall. These systems work well in clay soil, so if this is what you have in your yard, consider making the switch to a drip system. Rotor heads, on the other hand, work for all types of lawns and are considered much more efficient than spray heads. Just be sure to adjust the watering zone of each head to ensure every inch of your lawn is only being watered by one head, otherwise you will be wasting water.

Choose drought-resistant plants.

Drought-resistant plants do not need as much water to thrive, so if you have these in your garden, you won’t need to use as much energy to take care of them. Some of the most popular drought-resistant plants include Coneflower, Lantana, Lavender, Day Lilies, and Penstemon. Of course, you should only pick drought-resistant plants that will have no problem growing in your particular climate and region also peppermint plants are easy to grow.

Stop These Bad Habits

Watering in the middle of the day or the evenings.

Contrary to popular belief, the best time to water your lawn is not the evening—it’s actually the morning. When you water your lawn in the middle of the day when temperatures are highest, more water will evaporate, so it’s not as efficient. When you water in the evenings, droplets can cling to the grass overnight, leading to serious lawn diseases. So, watering in the morning is not only the best way to protect your lawn from diseases, but also to save energy.

Tackle These Projects

Create a rainwater barrel.

When it rains outside, where does all the water go? If you don’t have a rainwater barrel, the water will fall on your roof, run through your gutters and pour out in a puddle alongside your house. But if you create a rainwater barrel, you can collect rainwater and use it to efficiently water your garden. Fortunately, this is not a hard project, so DIY-ers of all skill levels can tackle it. Just grab a plastic trash can, a drill and a few other materials, and you’ll be one step closer to an energy efficient garden.

Mulch your flowerbeds.

A lot of water can be lost when it evaporates off of the plants in your garden before they get a chance to absorb it. But mulch can help your plants retain water and reduce water loss through evaporation. The best part? This is a cheap and easy project, so you can definitely tackle it on your own without breaking the bank.

With these tips, not only will your garden be beautiful and blooming, but it will also be energy efficient!