Key Takeaways
Using mulch, coir, and healthy soil can support a garden experiencing drought.Graywater and rainwater keep a garden healthy while also conserving water.Heat-tolerant crops, tall companion plants, and shade cloths all create a more resistant garden.
Long stretches without rain can wreak havoc on a garden, and it’s unfortunately an all too familiar situation for many gardeners this year. While dry spells are cause for concern, learning how to maintain a garden during drought can help save it until rain comes again.
Two gardening experts contributed their thoughts on the best methods for keeping a garden thriving through drought, from useful watering techniques to thoughtful additions and plant choices that can withstand heat and dryness.
Meet the Expert
Stephen Lucke is the CEO and founder of Gardopia Gardens, an urban micro-farm and education center.
Donna Letier is the CEO and co-founder of Gardenuity, a well-being and customized gardening kit company.
Apply Mulch to Your Beds
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The Spruce / Jacob Fox
Protecting your plants and preserving water is a top priority when you’re grappling with a drought. Fortunately, there are several ways to support your garden in this way, including with mulch.
“Mulch helps manage weeds and keeps soil cooler and moister,” says gardening expert Stephen Lucke. “Many cities and municipalities offer free mulch to residents from green waste.”
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Focus on Soil Health
Learning how to cultivate healthy soil leads to so many benefits, including support for your garden during dry spells.
“Healthy soil is like a sponge, holding onto water when you need it most,” says gardening expert Donna Letier.
She notes that this—along with other good habits such as composting—will lead to better resilience in your garden during droughts. A few ways to promote great soil health are adding organic matter, testing it, and adjusting the pH if needed.
Collect Graywater and Rainwater
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schulzie / Getty Images
Considering the watering systems you have in place will help you down the road during droughts. Lucke mentions that rainwater and graywater collection both pay off wonderfully.
“Graywater collection is a bit more labor-intensive to set up, but graywater from the shower, dishwasher, and laundry can augment your dripline system,” he notes.
He also touts the impact of collecting and using rainwater. He’s seen examples of gardens that compared standard water and rainwater and found that the latter tends to lead to healthier, stronger plants with lower watering needs.
Add Hydrated Coir
Preserving water is a key priority when your garden hasn’t seen rain in a while. Letier suggests using coir to support your efforts.
“Topping off containers with a layer of hydrated coir creates a natural sponge that keeps soil moist longer,” she says. “You can also try watering from the bottom up by letting containers sit in a shallow tray of water; this encourages roots to draw in exactly what they need without waste.”
Research Your Local Water Report
You’ll also want to focus on the type of water you’re using on your plants and how it could potentially impact them. This awareness allows you to adjust the soil pH and water pH for a healthy garden.
“Local utilities post water quality reports by zip code, and that information matters because water that’s too acidic or too alkaline can block plants from absorbing nutrients, no matter how often you water,” Letier says.
Once you have this knowledge, Letier says you can make adjustments as you go that reduce how much water your garden needs, which is particularly helpful during a drought.
Find Shade for Your Garden
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EyeWolf / Getty Images
If rain is nonexistent and watering has to be kept to a bare minimum, the next best thing you can do is slow evaporation. This way, your garden will better retain water until it’s more abundant again.
“In the height of the summer, installing a shade cloth helps protect plants and reduce evaporation,” Lucke says.
Letier also recommends moving plants into the shade or using taller companion plants when conditions are hot, sunny, and extremely dry.
Incorporate a Drip Irrigation System
If you’re interested in finding new, innovative ways of watering that waste less, drip irrigation systems are worth looking into.
“This watering method is 90% efficient and once set up, is automatic,” Lucke says. “Dripline waters plants at the root, so much less water is lost via evaporation.”
Plant Heat-Tolerant Crops and Plants
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The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
Both Letier and Lucke share that it’s a smart idea to choose crops that are native to your area and also mix in drought-tolerant plants. Your options will depend on the USDA zone you’re in, but some popular choices include rosemary, squash, pumpkin, hot peppers, oregano, thyme, watermelon, and okra.
“Incorporating native and drought-tolerant plants into your garden also helps reduce reliance on supplemental watering,” adds Letier.
Consider Aeration Techniques
Compact soil isn’t always healthy, and you may need to loosen things up so vegetables, fruits, and other plants can make the most of the little water they do get. Aeration can help with this, especially during drought.
“We recommend ‘chopsticks aeration’ once a month: gently poking holes into the soil with a stick to break up compaction so water and nutrients flow more easily to the roots,” says Letier.
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