Best way to conserve water in containers?

barryla61 · May 6, 2012

Just a plain planting tub, not the self watering type.
In the past we have "mulched" around container plants with grass clippings to prevent water splash but it aslo seems to help seal off the top and prevent evaporation to some degree.
My question is would putting some newspaper down first then putting grass clippings on help even more?

habitat_gardener · May 6, 2012

You can also shield the container from the sun, if it's not peppers, eggplant, or another plant that likes hot roots. I planted a blueberry in a 5-gallon container and put that container inside a larger one, with mulch between, to keep the roots cooler. In another thread, someone suggested wrapping containers in bamboo window coverings to protect them from the sun.

Try the newspaper and see -- I'd guess it would help.

GaryStPaul · May 6, 2012

Last year I put a sheet of newspaper in the bottom of my grow bags and another around the plant at the top with a layer of straw over that. It drained well and also conserved water.

May 6, 2012	#1
barryla61 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Bedford, VA Posts: 257	Best way to conserve water in containers? Just a plain planting tub, not the self watering type. In the past we have "mulched" around container plants with grass clippings to prevent water splash but it aslo seems to help seal off the top and prevent evaporation to some degree. My question is would putting some newspaper down first then putting grass clippings on help even more?

May 6, 2012	#2
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	You can also shield the container from the sun, if it's not peppers, eggplant, or another plant that likes hot roots. I planted a blueberry in a 5-gallon container and put that container inside a larger one, with mulch between, to keep the roots cooler. In another thread, someone suggested wrapping containers in bamboo window coverings to protect them from the sun. Try the newspaper and see -- I'd guess it would help.

May 6, 2012	#3
GaryStPaul Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St Paul, MN Posts: 158	Last year I put a sheet of newspaper in the bottom of my grow bags and another around the plant at the top with a layer of straw over that. It drained well and also conserved water.