In order to protect the climate and save water resources, the German Federal Environment Ministry presented a "National Water Strategy" last month. This is intended to help counteract the impending water shortage in Germany. In this context, the "Verband Wohneigentum" (VWE) has published a position paper which serves as a guide to optimize behavior in the garden with regard to water use.
The position paper "Sustainable water use in home gardens" contains both recommendations for action for politicians and a "10-point plan" for private garden users. A rethink is of elementary importance in the area of home gardens: According to the VWE, around 4 percent of the land area in Germany consists of private gardens. According to this, a total of 1.4 million hectares of land is involved, which corresponds to the total area of all nature reserves in Germany.
The recommendations for action to policymakers include better storage and use of rainwater, conservation of groundwater for garden use, and the creation of sustainable tools to guide water use. In the private garden sector, the "10-Point Plan" serves as a guide for sustainable water use. For example, a higher humus content can help improve the water-holding capacity of the soil, as can a thoughtful arrangement and design of plants in the garden with different water requirements. Interested parties can find further tips on behavior on the VWE website.
Source: VWE
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