In the face of climate change and rising temperatures, home gardeners are looking for ways to garden more sustainably and reduce their carbon footprint. Home composting and reducing plastic waste are two methods gardeners have embraced to make their gardens more viable, but what else can you do?
Water-wise gardening, or xeriscaping, as it is also sometimes known, is not a new concept, but is one that is definitely gaining more traction. To find out more, we consulted experts to discover what water-wise gardening trends we can expect to see more of in 2026 and how you can integrate them into your garden.
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Water-wise gardening trends for 2026
If you want to reduce your water bill and time spent irrigating your front or backyard, drought-tolerant planting is a great option. But there are other ways you can conserve water and also save time in the process.
Read on to discover how mulching, installing an irrigation system and keeping water on site will not only make your garden more sustainable but keep you at the forefront of gardening trends as well.
1. Mulching
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When it comes to gardening, mulching is a commonly heard term. For any beginner gardener, this is not a phrase to be put off by, as it simply means a layer of material placed on the surface of the soil.
However, for such a simple process, the benefits of mulching are nothing short of astounding. With biodegradable and non-biodegradable types of mulch available, both share many advantages, but only biodegradable mulches benefit the soil directly. Common biodegradable materials applied as mulches include garden compost, leaf mold and wood chip, but straw, well-rotted manure and even seaweed can also be used.
Sarah Menz, a master gardener with a Master’s in Sustainability, says: ‘I always encourage home gardeners to use mulch in their garden beds as a way to conserve water.
‘By applying a layer of biodegradable covering to the tops of your garden beds, you’ll reduce how much water is lost due to surface evaporation, meaning that you won’t need to water as frequently.’
Further to conserving water, an additional benefit of mulching is that it can stop any unwanted seeds from germinating. As Sarah adds: ‘A layer of mulch can also double as a weed barrier, making it harder for weeds to establish and saving you time when it comes to weeding.’
As if this wasn’t enough, other mulching benefits include insulating the soil and helping protect roots over the winter months and giving a neater appearance to any garden borders.
Furthermore, mulching with organic matter has the bonus of improving the soil’s nutrient levels and drainage properties as it breaks down.
Sarah Menz
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Master gardener
Sarah is a master gardener and holds a Masters in Sustainability. She is passionate and knowledgeable in sustainable solutions, water conservation, and irrigation technology. She advises on all things agriculture, gardening and eco-friendly practices.
2. Installing irrigation systems
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Installing an irrigation system is another water-wise method to reduce watering in the garden. Garden irrigation systems often include complex drip pipe or soaker hose setups, but simpler DIY irrigation options can also prove surprisingly effective.
Used for watering new hedging plants, ornamental borders, or raised beds, irrigation systems can also be used for vegetable patches and balcony growing.
Watering using an irrigation system can be beneficial in several ways, including conserving water and maintaining plant health. For example, by watering directly to the roots of the plants, less water is required, as little, if any, is lost to evaporation.
Also, by avoiding overhead watering, the foliage remains dry, which can help prevent any fungal diseases that could lead to poor appearance and low crop yields.
Laura Osteen, principal designer of San-Francisco-based company Secret Garden Landscapes, suggests that when it comes to water-wise gardening, ‘drought-tolerant plants should be used, alongside drip irrigation’.
With technological advances, there is a wide range of irrigation controllers available for home gardeners to purchase, ranging from simple timers to those with customizable zone options.
However, for the most benefit, Laura suggests ‘using irrigation controls that are site specific’ and to ‘make sure that wind, precipitation and temperature are being monitored onsite so that your controller actually can adjust and water as efficiently as possible’.
Over my professional horticultural career, I have installed and maintained drip irrigation systems with smart controllers, similar to this Rachio WiFi Smart Sprinkler Controller available from Amazon, at several of the gardens I have managed. Which, having been set up, have always impressed me with their efficient water delivery and labor-saving benefits.
Laura Osteen
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Garden Designer
Laura Osteen is an award-winning landscape designer and licensed landscape contractor at Secret Landscapes. She has spent decades honing her craft and brings a multidisciplinary background to landscape design and maintenance.
3. Keeping water on site
Along with irrigation systems, another water-wise gardening trend for 2026 is using the water we already naturally have access to more effectively. As Laura says: ‘I think for waterwise gardening it is really important to keep water on site.’
Using bioswales is one method Laura suggests, but you can also incorporate a rain garden, bioretention pond, or green roof at your home.
Designed to capture stormwater runoff, a bioswale is a vegetated or planted-up ditch that collects water before filtering it and allowing it to soak slowly back into the ground or be funnelled elsewhere. In a domestic setting, bioswales can be placed adjacent to a hard-standing or a driveway where excess stormwater would normally run off, potentially leading to localized flooding.
However, bioswales aren’t just beneficial for water conservation, as they can also be used to increase biodiversity in your garden. Commonly planted with a mixture of grasses, native plants can also be grown in bioswales, along with some pollinator-friendly specimens.
Rain gardens are another way of utilizing excess rainwater effectively on-site. Rather than being added to the sewerage system or your street, rain gardens collect and hold rainwater for a short period before allowing it to soak back into the soil. As with bioswales, rain gardens also filter the water as it passes through the soil and plants’ roots and are a great opportunity to grow specimens to attract more wildlife into your backyard.
However, the best rain garden plants won’t just encourage wildlife but will also enhance your garden. For example, the native swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata, is a favorite of garden designers due to its pink-purple clusters of flowers that are loved by Monarch butterflies and its tolerance of moist and wet conditions.
Flag irises are another attractive option for rain gardens or bioswales, as they are known to attract pollinators and their deep roots can help stabilize the soil and filter any contaminants.
Further to including a bioswale or rain garden, ensuring the soil in your garden is in an optimum state through regular mulching and avoiding compaction, is also key in helping prevent excess rainwater runoff and keeping water on site. As Laura states: ‘Keeping the soil healthy will allow water to go more slowly into the soil, maintaining the overall health of the site.’
Using rain barrels for harvesting water from a roof is not a new concept, but one that has stood the test of time. Adored by gardeners, rain barrels, once set up, are a great way of storing and using rainwater to water your plants.
Furthermore, using harvested rainwater is highly cost-effective and beneficial for your plants and garden, as it is free from any potential chemicals or contaminants that might be present in other sources.
Although sometimes viewed as unsightly and even an eyesore in a garden, decorative rain barrels are now available in many different materials and shapes. As an example, this 50-Gallon Newport Rain Barrel available from Amazon would not look out of place in most front or back yards.
When it comes to managing rainwater, there are two main methods for collecting it off your home: downspouts and rain chains. But which is better?
Downspouts are often seen as the least attractive option and can be prone to becoming clogged with leaves, but they can carry a substantial amount of rainwater off your roof to use at a later date.
Rain chains, on the other hand, can not handle as much water, but they are more aesthetic and do not get blocked. You can find out more about rain chains vs rain barrels and which water management system is best for your garden in our specialist feature.
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