Whether you live where it rains or where it pours, there’s a great, easy way you can conserve water for garden use.

Where I live (Calif.) that’s a very big deal, as we Californians head into a third consecutive drought year.

Rain “harvesting” isn’t a new concept, but let’s just say this oldie is a goodie.

It’s as simple as setting up a simple capture system to redirect rainwater off the roof to a barrel.

Collecting Water - photo by Prem Anand

Whether you use a wine barrel to collect rainfall from your rooftop or recycle waste water from household sinks, bathtubs, showers and washing machines, you’re doing your water bill and the planet good.

If all this sounds like too much work, there’s always a very easy way to save–turn off the sprinklers during the winter, sunless it’s really dry and windy, in which case run them every so often. Get to know your sprinkler system and learn how to turn it off.

According to local experts in my hometown, Sacramento residents devote 60 percent of residential water use to their outdoor irrigation, and of that, 40 to 60 percent is wasted, as most homeowners over water by 200 to 300 percent.”

You can buy rain barrels here. Or buy a whole rain water collection system here. Or, take a baby step and turn off your sprinklers in the winter time.

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Winter is tough on plants, which are often exposed to hard wind, rain and freezing temperatures, not to mention snow.

Luckily, there are ways to protect the pants in your garden and yard from frost. When the temperature drops to freezing, or 32 degrees, frost damage can be minimal and only affect a leaf or two. But if the temperature continues to drop, plant cells will freeze, and non hardy plants will die.

Of course the best way to protect your garden from frost is to only grow plants that can withstand the frost. Ask a qualified local nurseryman what plants are suitable to grow in your area.

If the forecast calls for frost where you live, cover your garden plants before dusk. Use newspaper, cardboard, plastic tarps, bed sheets or any other lightweight material to create a tent of protection. Remove the covers in the morning after the frost has thawed.

Potted plants can be brought indoors overnight, or brought under cover on a porch or patio.

If despite your best efforts, frost damage occurs, leave the dead or damaged parts intact, as they will provide limited insulation from further frost damage.

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