by Anne StClair

Created on: February 16, 2009   Last Updated: November 15, 2010

Water is a precious commodity, and is becoming more so in many parts of the world as some regions become warmer and drier, with drought becoming more widespread. In some areas of Australia, for example, where states such as South Australia and Western Australia have experienced severe droughts, water restrictions have become an almost permanent fixture, and people have had to develop a number of strategies for saving water.

Rainwater Tanks

The most obvious item in the water-saving garden is a rainwater tank, or preferably, several of them, to capture and store all the water falling on the roof of the house, garden, shed, or any other structure. The general rule is, have as large a tank as you can afford, and as many tanks as you can sensibly use. Water can also be stored in makeshift containers such as drums, garbage cans, and so on.

Mulch and Build the Soil

An even more important place in which to store water is in the soil itself, since more water can be stored in the soil than in tanks above it. A good soil, rich in humus, acts like a sponge that soaks up water and retains it for the use of plants. To create good soil, and to prevent evaporation and to keep the soil moist and cool, use thick mulch around the plants. Bare soil hastens evaporation, but it also acts as an invitation to weeds, so make sure your soil is never bare.

If you are covering a weedy area, consider sheet-mulching the area by slashing the weeds and leaving them in place (to add organic matter, and hence humus to the soil), then cover with compost followed by layers of wet cardboard or many layers of wet newspaper. Follow this with more compost and then with a thick layer of mulch material such as pea straw or Lucerne hay. Cover this with a weed-free layer, such as clean straw. It is almost impossible to make the mulch too thick, and the usual mistake gardeners make is to be stingy with the mulch materials.

Always use well-rotted manure or compost to feed your plants rather than liquid fertilizers. The latter tend to leach minerals out of the soil, and do nothing to build up the organic content of the soil. Adding compost and manure helps to build rich humus that holds a lot of water in the soil.

Choose Plants Wisely

Another obvious way to reduce water, but one which is often forgotten, is to choose drought-tolerant plants. Generally, plants that are indigenous to your region are adapted to your area's rainfall and dry periods. Plants from other areas with a similar climate are also usually

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